More than the Sum of Their Parts: Seizing Opportunities for U.S.-Japan-ROK Trilateral Cooperation

Japan and South Korea are pursuing a bilateral rapprochement after years of bitter disputes and tit-for-tat retaliation over historical issues. U.S. leaders have enthusiastically welcomed this trend. Tension between Tokyo and Seoul divides liberal democracies in Northeast Asia at a time when threats from North Korea, China, and Russia require cooperative responses. The Japan-ROK rapprochement is nascent, however, and could reverse sharply at any time. This panel will examine: What new opportunities do improved relations create across the fields of diplomacy, defense, and technology? How can alliance managers in all three capitals parlay initial progress into an ambitious trilateral partnership that can meet regional and global security challenges?