US President Joe Biden confirmed during the trilateral Camp David summit held today in Maryland, with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, that America is set to strengthen cooperation with South Korea and Japan to address threats. Kishida praised the summit as marking a new chapter for Japan, Washington, and Seoul, while Yoon viewed the trilateral meeting as opening a new page of cooperation.
In a South Korean version of the joint statement from the summit, obtained by Reuters, the nations committed to immediate consultations and coordinating responses to regional challenges, provocations, and threats affecting their shared interests. They also condemned the "dangerous and aggressive actions" of China.
The United States, South Korea, and Japan aim to enhance military and economic relations during the summit, as the three countries seek to demonstrate unity in the face of China's growing influence and nuclear threats from North Korea. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated in a press conference at Camp David that the meeting would result in "important steps" to strengthen trilateral security cooperation, including a commitment to joint consultations in times of crisis.
Sullivan added that these steps would include a plan for several years of military exercises and further coordination and integration in the areas of improving information sharing, protection against ballistic missile attacks, communication during crises, and policy coordination. He mentioned that the leaders of the three countries would also unveil new initiatives in the fields of economy and energy security, which would include an early warning mechanism for disruptions affecting supply chains.
