US envoy sees ‘consequential shift’ in NATO, Asia ties amid China challenges

SEOUL: The recent presence by four Asia Pacific leaders on the NATO summit demonstrates a “consequential shift” in the US transatlantic security partnership which Wa seeks to broaden to better counter The far east, a senior ALL OF US diplomat told Reuters.

Within an interview in Seoul, US State Section Counselor Derek Chollet, who serves as the senior policy adviser to Secretary Antony Blinken, said he or she sees “great potential” for cooperation in between South Korea plus NATO, built on previous exchanges which includes global efforts to assist Ukraine and Europe joining RIMPAC army exercises in Asian countries.

“I think one of the most consequential changes we’ve seen over the decade is the developing relationship between our transatlantic partners and our partners within the Indo-Pacific, inch Chollet said.

Last month, Yoon Suk-yeol became the first South Korean president to attend a NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION summit in Spain, as he looks to play a larger global role plus forge European partnerships in the face of North Korea’s evolving nuclear dangers.

The participation of Yoon plus leaders of Japan, Australia and Brand new Zealand, as well as NATO’s newly adopted strategy concept that cited China as a concern for the first time, was “truly historic” and “the beginning of what could be a very close up partnership”, Chollet mentioned.

“I strongly recall a decade ago endeavoring to talk to European allies about the importance of the Indo-Pacific and getting a hard time getting these to be able to pay a lot attention. That has transformed fundamentally, ” he or she said.

“The foundation or the principle of our approach to Customer… aligning with companions and allies. inch