Seoul: U.S. President Donald Trump's "irrefutable" unorthodox foreign policy approach toward allies could ironically mean an opportunity for South Korea to deepen its alliance with the United States beyond the security and military realms, a former White House official said Thursday. Alex Wong, former U.S. deputy national security adviser, highlighted this potential shift during a forum hosted by the Sejong Institute.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Wong described the current global landscape as one where the traditional U.S.-led protection and a global economy centered on low trade barriers are no longer sustainable. Wong, who currently serves as the global chief strategy officer of Hanwha Group, emphasized Trump's "strategic boldness" that contrasts with previous American leadership. He noted that the period from the fall of the Soviet Union to Trump's 2026 election marked a deviation from the typical strategic environment, influenced by factors like China's ascent and Russia's aggressive actions.
Wong argued that these global changes reinforce the rationale behind Trump's approach, suggesting that countries recognize the necessity of reintroducing certain barriers to revitalize manufacturing and maintain resilience in the new strategic paradigm. He asserted that this evolving world order offers South Korea a chance to broaden the scope of its alliance with the U.S., particularly by focusing on industrial sectors.
The opportunity lies in leveraging South Korea's strengths to transform the U.S.-Korea alliance into one that extends beyond traditional security and military cooperation, towards shared technological advancement and industrial resilience, Wong elaborated.
Addressing concerns over the economic implications of the Middle East crisis, Wong observed that the current downturn in oil and stock markets has not been as severe as previous global challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or the financial crisis of the late 2000s. He attributed this moderate impact to Trump's strategic execution, including military initiatives and Washington's efforts to diversify and bolster energy security.