Munich: Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul has affirmed that South Korea has "no doubts" about the United States' unwavering security commitment under President Donald Trump, citing strong bipartisan support from the U.S. Congress. Speaking at a panel session during the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Saturday, Cho addressed concerns about whether Trump's foreign policy approach could impact Washington's security commitments to Seoul.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho stated that President Trump has approached foreign relations from a transactional perspective. Nevertheless, there exists strong bipartisan support in Washington for the ironclad Korea-U.S. alliance, underscoring its importance in addressing both regional and global security issues. "We have no doubts about the U.S. commitment to the ironclad and robust alliance," Cho added.
Cho acknowledged that Washington is likely to demand that Seoul take on a greater role in dealing with regional security challenges, particularly in response to increasing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. In response to growing calls for South Korea's nuclear armament, Cho mentioned that it remains premature to discuss "Plan B," which would have broader security implications beyond the Korean Peninsula. He emphasized that it is somewhat premature to talk about "Plan B," and while it is not on the table for now, it does not mean it will be off the table.
The Foreign Minister stressed that South Korea must be prepared for all possible security scenarios and will closely coordinate with Washington in any case. Although South Korea faces the challenge of balancing its relationships with the U.S., an "irreplaceable ally," and China, its "single largest trading partner," Cho emphasized a strong alliance with Washington. He concluded by stating, "It is only natural that maintaining harmony in both relationships best serves South Korea's national interests. However, one thing is clear. An alliance is an alliance, and a partnership is a partnership. There should be no absolute equivalence between the two."