South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong and Minister of National Defence Suh Wook hosted Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Peter Dutton in Seoul for the fifth Foreign and Defence Ministers’ 2+2 Meeting on Monday.
During the meeting, the Republic of Korea (ROK), the official name for South Korea, and Australia celebrated 60 years of diplomatic ties. Both sides noted their strong cooperation in numerous sectors, based on mutual respect for democracy, freedom, human rights, the rule of law, trust, commitment to free and open Indo-Pacific, and people-to-people ties.
The ministers welcomed the agreement formalised on the sidelines of the G7 Summit held in Cornwall in June that promoted their bilateral relationship into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). Furthermore, they recognised the importance of regular consultations via various channels to facilitate discussions on regional issues, new areas of cooperation, and opportunities to increase engagement, including corresponding visits by ministers of both countries.
Other topics of discussion included COVID-19, bilateral cooperation, defence and security cooperation, the Korean peninsula, and regional and global cooperation.
COVID-19
The ministers highlighted the need for global cooperation to overcome the pandemic and hailed the contributions to COVAX, a World Health Organization (WHO)-led facility that ensures equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and medical supplies to developing countries. They noted the role of international and multilateral organisations such as the WHO in preventing the future outbreak of infectious diseases. Both sides have committed to partnering on bilateral and multilateral levels to amplify their capacity to counter the spread of the pandemic in the region.
Additionally, the officials underscored the need for close cooperation for vaccine access and delivery, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. In this regard, they pledged to boost vaccine supply through various measures, including research and development in vaccine technology. Both sides stressed closer people-to-people ties and committed to making efforts to resume exchanges at the earliest.
Bilateral Cooperation
The officials reiterated the need to strengthen bilateral cooperation to manage new challenges and agreed to advance collaboration in various areas, including climate change, pandemic response, post-pandemic economic recovery, and trade relationships. In addition, they welcomed leader-level agreements to bolster ties for low emissions technology and established a Low Emissions Technology Partnership in all areas.
Concerning cyber and critical technology, both sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to increase existing cooperation, formalise dialogue on cyber policy, and hold an inaugural Cyber and Critical Technology Policy Dialogue between senior officials soon. Similarly, the ministers agreed to establish dialogue on space policy, focusing on development in multilateral institutions and future bilateral space cooperation. The countries aim to maintain a safe, secure, and sustainable space domain through these annual talks.
The officials then discussed climate change and agreed to cooperate on greenhouse gas reductions, global neutrality carbon targets, and biodiversity conservation.
Apart from this, they discussed building resilient supply chains, a bilateral free trade agreement, economic security issues, trends, bilateral and regional trade, and the need for a rules-based multilateral trading system.
Defence and Security Cooperation
The officials highlighted mutual security and defence interests and agreed to cooperate on the contemporary security threats in an evolving strategic environment. The defence ministers of both countries decided to explore new opportunities to increase defence cooperation and acknowledged the progress made in the defence industry and material collaboration. The ministers recognised that “leveraging on the strengths of each other’s domestic defence industrial bases would contribute to their security and resilience in meeting future security challenges.”
The officials narrowed down a Korean company as the preferred arms supplier for the Australian army’s self-propelled artillery project. They also appreciated the MoU concerning support and cooperation in mutual logistics. Talks were also held regarding joint military exercises, training, port calls, aircraft visits to improve interoperability, mutual understanding, and trust between the armies of both countries.
Furthermore, the ministers discussed collaboration in defence science and technology, including with other allies and partners, and the MoU on cooperation related to the Missing Korean War Personnel signed during the fourth Australia-ROK 2+2 Ministerial Meeting in 2019.
Both sides are looking forward to the fourth UN Peacekeeping Ministerial scheduled in Seoul in December. They have agreed to coordinate to contribute to the success of the meeting.
The Korean Peninsula
The officials emphasised the need for complete denuclearisation and the establishment of permanent peace on the Korean peninsula. The Australian ministers extended their support to South Korea for inter-Korean dialogue, engagement, and cooperation. Both sides welcomed the joint efforts of the United States and South Korea in pursuing diplomacy with North Korea and urged the latter to engage in constructive dialogue without preconditions.
In addition, they expressed concern about North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, stressed the need to adhere to United Nations Security Council resolutions and acknowledged the Armistice Agreement and the inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement maintained by the United Nations Command in the Korean Peninsula.
Regional and Global Cooperation
The ministers acknowledged their shared strategic interests and the synergy between South Korea’s New Southern Policy and Australia’s approach to the Indo-Pacific. In this regard, they agreed to continue communications to realise their vision for the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, the ministers talked about the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and reaffirmed support to its outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
Both sides recognised their unique alliance with the United States and extended support to America’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific across the economic, development, health, and security domains.
Apart from this, the ministers committed to continuing cooperation in health, infrastructure, maritime security, economic recovery, regional connectivity, and the Mekong water management capacity building. Deepening partnerships with Pacific Island countries and aiding their post-pandemic economic recovery, developments in the South China Sea, and the security and humanitarian situations in Afghanistan and Myanmar were also part of the conversation.
They then welcomed ‘Leader-level endorsement of the Open Societies Statement’ adopted during the G7 Summit in June and committed to promoting and protecting universal human rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment across the Indo-Pacific.
Towards the end, the ministers reaffirmed the importance of close ties between both nations and committed to expanding cooperation in digital trade, artificial intelligence, and green energy. They agreed to hold the next 2+2 ministerial meeting in Australia in 2023.
SUMMARY: Australia-South Korea 2+2 Meeting
The foreign and defence ministers of South Korea hosted their Australian counterparts for the fifth Foreign and Defence Ministers’ 2+2 Meeting in Seoul on Monday.
September 14, 2021
SOURCE: THE KOREAN HERALD