Analysis: South Korea, Japan, U.S. trilateral cooperation still faces obstacles

Analysis: South Korea, Japan, U.S. trilateral cooperation still faces obstacles

Event or Trend: Senior Officials from the United States, South Korea and Japan will meet for trilateral talks to discuss how to boost the partnership. Despite recent efforts to solidify trilateral cooperation between South Korea, Japan, and the United States, significant risks threaten the sustainability of this relationship.

Significance: The trilateral partnership between South Korea, Japan, and the United States has drawn significant attention due to the attention accorded to it by Washington to address security concerns regarding China. In recent months, high-level summits and renewed agreements have aimed to formalize cooperation, in order to institutionalize military, economic, and diplomatic ties. These efforts, while essential to regional stability, still face considerable obstacles.

Historical animosities between South Korea and Japan remain a source of contention and divergent domestic political priorities and unpredictable U.S. foreign policy shifts threaten the long-term sus…