US President Joe Biden held a pivotal meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday.
The talks, held during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Lima, Peru, aimed to solidify diplomatic progress among the three nations ahead of Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration, which many fear could disrupt global alliances.
The leaders focused on shared concerns, including North Korea’s nuclear programme, its military support for Russia in the Ukraine war, and escalating regional tensions.
“Japan, the ROK, and the United States strongly condemn the decisions by the leaders of the DPRK and Russia to dangerously expand Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine,” said a joint statement, referring to South Korea and North Korea by their official names, the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The summit marked the first in-person meeting for Biden, Yoon, and Ishiba since the Japanese prime minister assumed office in October. It also underscored the Biden administration’s effort to foster cooperation between South Korea and Japan, whose relations have long been strained by historical grievances tied to Japan’s 1910–1945 colonial rule of Korea.
A major outcome of the talks was the announcement of a Trilateral Secretariat to formalise ongoing collaboration. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan described the move as a step to ensure the partnership extends beyond “a series of meetings.”
Biden highlighted the strategic importance of the alliance in countering China’s growing assertiveness, a position that Beijing has rejected. “I truly believe the cooperation of our countries will be the foundation to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific for many years to come,” Biden stated during the meeting.
In addition to discussing North Korea and China, the three leaders pledged to deepen collaboration with the Philippines in critical sectors such as ports, energy, and transportation.
While the talks showcased strong unity, Trump’s “America First” approach and scepticism toward US financial and military commitments have raised uncertainties about the continuity of trilateral efforts.
Sullivan acknowledged concerns over potential provocations by North Korea during the transition period, saying, “Transitions have historically been time periods when the DPRK has taken provocative actions, both before and after the transition from one president to a new president. I do not think we can count on a period of quiet with the DPRK.”
Biden’s success in cultivating this trilateral partnership stands as a key diplomatic achievement of his administration, further anchoring US influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
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