The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met on Thursday in Brussels to discuss a trilateral cooperation at strengthening the security of their countries and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
The United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) made a Joint Statement following the meeting.
Strengthening Regional and Global Engagement
The United States reaffirmed its "ironclad" commitments to the defence of Japan and ROK, supported by its unmatched military strength, including nuclear capabilities.
All parties agreed that U.S. extended deterrence remains vital to the security of the Korean Peninsula and Indo-Pacific region. Japan and the ROK supported U.S. efforts to engage China and Russia in reducing nuclear risks and reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing defence and deterrence through robust security cooperation and strengthened defense capabilities.
The Secretary and Foreign Ministers strongly opposed unlawful maritime claims and any unilateral attempts to alter the status quo by force or coercion in the Indo-Pacific, especially in the South China Sea. They emphasized their commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, ensuring international law, including freedoms of navigation and overflight, prevails.
They also stressed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as essential to international security and prosperity. They expressed concern over provocative actions, such as recent military drills around Taiwan, and called for an end to destabilizing actions. They urged peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues and opposed unilateral changes to the status quo. Additionally, they supported Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations.
The Secretary and Foreign Ministers welcomed ongoing talks between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine and encouraged progress toward a comprehensive ceasefire as a crucial step toward a just and lasting peace in line with the UN Charter.
Addressing the North Korean Threat
The Secretary and Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their strong commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs).
They expressed concern over North Korea’s growing military cooperation with Russia and stressed the need for a united approach to address DPRK’s nuclear and missile programs. They emphasized the importance of maintaining and strengthening sanctions against the DPRK, responding firmly to violations and evasions of UNSCRs.
The Secretary and Foreign Ministers also condemned North Korea’s malicious cyber activities, including the theft of nearly $1.5 billion in cryptocurrency from an exchange in February. They urged the international community to prevent the DPRK from converting the stolen funds into hard cash.
They pledged to continue efforts to address the severe human rights violations in the DPRK and reiterated their commitment to the immediate resolution of issues related to abductees, detainees, unrepatriated prisoners of war, and separated families.
Enhancing Economic Security and Resilience
The Secretary and Foreign Ministers pledged to strengthen energy security and cooperation, supported by America’s LNG and other energy technologies, in a mutually beneficial way.
Building on discussions in Munich, they committed to diversifying critical mineral supply chains, including through the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), and to developing and protecting critical and emerging technologies. They emphasized leveraging industry capacities to advance civil nuclear reactor development under the highest standards of safety, security, and nonproliferation.
They recognized the need for coordinated efforts to ensure maritime security through a modern fleet, strong shipbuilding industry, and skilled workforce. The trilateral coast guard cooperation was welcomed to address maritime challenges and provide capacity-building assistance under the Trilateral Maritime Security and Law Enforcement Cooperation Framework.
Standing against economic coercion and unfair trade practices, they reaffirmed their commitment to a free and fair global economic order and expressed support for the Republic of Korea’s efforts to host APEC 2025 and achieve meaningful outcomes.
A Chinese-linked hacking group secretly stole data from academic, medical and military research institutions in the U.S. and Canada for more than a ye...
U.S. President Donald Trump said a preliminary agreement to end the war in the Gulf has been signed by the U.S. and Iran, though details have yet to b...
European leaders will warn U.S. President Donald Trump at Tuesday’s G7 summit that a superficial interim Iran deal risks entrenching Tehran's nuclea...
In an historic milestone for South Caucasus diplomacy, Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, conducted his first w...
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed on takeoff on Monday at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California's Mojave Desert, bursting in...
A Chinese-linked hacking group secretly stole data from academic, medical and military research institutions in the U.S. and Canada for more than a year before being discovered, according to a report published by Google on Monday.
European leaders will warn U.S. President Donald Trump at Tuesday’s G7 summit that a superficial interim Iran deal risks entrenching Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, while also pressing him to rethink his Ukraine strategy.
The European Central Bank (ECB) welcomed news of a preliminary ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran on Monday, as hopes of a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz pushed oil prices lower and reduced expectations of further interest rate rises in the eurozone.
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the memorandum of understanding linked to the U.S.-Iran agreement had been signed by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
Details of a reported draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offer the clearest picture yet of how both sides plan to end months of conflict and move towards a longer-term settlement.
The U.S. and Iran say they have reached a deal to end their conflict, with an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Talks will continue over the next 60 days to finalise the agreement
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the memorandum of understanding linked to the U.S.-Iran agreement had been signed by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by a Lebanon-related provision in an emerging agreement with Iran, according to Israeli officials.
Switzerland on Sunday rejected a referendum proposal to cap its population at 10 million, a projection showed, as voters prioritised economic stability and the country's ties with the European Union over immigration concerns.
A Chinese-linked hacking group secretly stole data from academic, medical and military research institutions in the U.S. and Canada for more than a year before being discovered, according to a report published by Google on Monday.
European leaders will warn U.S. President Donald Trump at Tuesday’s G7 summit that a superficial interim Iran deal risks entrenching Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, while also pressing him to rethink his Ukraine strategy.
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed on takeoff on Monday at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California's Mojave Desert, bursting into flames and killing all eight crew members aboard, Air Force officials said.
Firefighters and workers were clearing debris on Monday after what Ukraine described as a deliberate Russian strike severely damaged a nearly 1,000-year-old cathedral in Kyiv, one of the country's most important religious and cultural landmarks.
One month after Ebola cases were confirmed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, health officials and aid organisations say the true extent of the outbreak remains unclear because of major gaps in testing, reporting and disease surveillance.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment