Amid the race to gain dominance in the Indo-Pacific, U.S. President Joe Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to deepen military and economic ties. at Camp David, USA, on Friday (August 18).
With the growing concerns arising out of North Korea’s nuclear threats and Chinese provocations, the three countries are set to tighten their security and economic ties. “Korea, the US, and Japan, in their pursuit of Indo-Pacific strategies, oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force,” said South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
“Critically, we’ve all committed to swiftly consult with each other in response to threats to any one of our countries from whatever source it occurs.” asserted U.S. President Joe Biden. He added that there will be a hotline to share information and coordinate, whenever there is a crisis in the region or affecting any one of our countries.
In a joint summit statement, the three countries committed to consult promptly with each other during crises and to coordinate responses to regional challenges, provocations, and threats affecting common interests.
“Regarding the dangerous and aggressive behavior supporting unlawful maritime claims that we have recently witnessed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the South China Sea,” said the joint statement. “We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the waters of the Indo-Pacific,” it added.
The countries also agreed to hold trilateral military training exercises annually and to share real-time information on North Korean missile launches by the end of 2023. The countries promised to hold trilateral summits annually.