PAST EVENT – Expert Exchange: Trump 2.0 – Security Implications for Japan and South Korea

Expert Exchange

»Trump 2.0 – Security Implications for Japan and South Korea«

In-person event

Welcome:
André Härtel, Head of Office, SWP, Brussels
Speakers:
Alexandra Sakaki, Deputy Head of Research Division Asia, SWP Berlin
Eric Ballbach, Associate Research Division Asia, SWP Berlin
Chair:
Lin Goethals, Director, European Institute for Asian Studies, Brussels
 

Date: Tuesday, 25 March 2025, 10h00-11h30 (CET)
Welcome Coffee & Registrations from 9h30
Venue: European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS), Wetstraat 26, 1000 Brussels

Dear Sir/Madam/X

The Brussels Office of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs – Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) and the European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) had the pleasure of organaing an expert exchange on the security implications for Japan and Korea in light of Trumps second administration. 

Japan and South Korea play central roles in the security dynamics of the Indo-Pacific: They not only host most of the US military presence in the region and thereby support deterrence, they also contribute to stabilizing regional order through their diplomatic and foreign policy engagements, for example in the context of multilateral institutions or through conceptual frameworks such as the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). With mounting geopolitical challenges in the region, both Tokyo and Seoul are increasingly seeking to deepen security cooperation not only with the US as their traditional alliance partner, but also other countries – including European countries.

Against this background, the panel sought to shed light on the prospects for security cooperation between Europe on the one hand and Japan and South Korea on the other hand. How are the two Asian countries looking at the advent of the second Trump administration and how does that shape their interest in cooperation with Europe? What is the impact of recent domestic political developments in Japan and South Korea? How can the EU and its member states as well as NATO strengthen their security cooperation with the two countries? What joint efforts can both sides undertake to address regional security challenges? The event aimed to explore strategies for European-Asian security cooperation, particularly in relation to the evolving dynamics with the Trump administration. 

The event took place under the Chatham House Rule.

Kind regards,

The EIAS and SWP Teams

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With friendly support of the Federal Foreign Office.

Photo credits: Flickr