Diplomacy Journal l Kayla lee

On April 15th, South Korea and Germany convened their third strategic dialogue between foreign ministers to discuss a range of international issues. The topics included the development of bilateral relations, economic security, supply chains, advanced technologies such as AI, and strategic considerations in key regions. The dialogue featured South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, who exchanged views on various topics, such as the state of relations between their countries, substantive cooperation, and the international situation related to the Korean Peninsula and major regions.

During the dialogue, Minister Chung emphasized that Germany has been a long-standing friend of South Korea that shares universal values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and an open economy. He further underscored Germany's status as South Korea's largest trading partner in Europe and a key partner in the country's global diplomacy. Moreover, the ministers acknowledged the active exchanges of high-level officials between the two countries, and they shared the belief that both Germany and South Korea need to cooperate closely to overcome challenges such as the uncertainties in the global economy, supply chain disruptions, climate change, and the digital divide.

The two ministers also agreed to continue promoting mutual dialogue and cooperation in cutting-edge areas such as economic security and advanced technologies, including AI and quantum. Minister Chung shared with Baerbock the recent site survey results of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) regarding the upcoming 2030 World Expo in Busan and requested Germany's active consideration for Busan's candidacy. The ministers had in-depth discussions on the strategic cooperation between South Korea and Germany in response to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the war in Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific region. Minister Chung emphasized the continued need for the international community to unite in the face of North Korea's continuous provocations and called for both South Korea and Germany to take a firm and united stance.

Overall, the strategic dialogue provided an essential opportunity for South Korea and Germany to deepen their cooperation and collaboration on a wide range of issues. The dialogue reaffirmed their shared commitment to global peace, security, and prosperity based on the values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and an open economy.