NO LONGER CUTTING BAIT: IMPLICATIONS OF AUKUS AGREEMENT FOR THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA’S SECURITY POLICIES
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Authors
Kim, Yosep
Subjects
Republic of Korea
ROK
South Korea
strategic competition
United States
China
lattice-like structure
geopolitical shift
Indo-Pacific
AUKUS
AUKUS Pillar1
AUKUS Pillar2
strategic multilateralism
minilateralism
hedging strategy
Indo-Pacific Strategy
alliances
structural change
Asia
nuclear-powered submarine cooperation
high-advanced technology
ROK’s diplomatic policy
ROK–US military cooperation
ROK
South Korea
strategic competition
United States
China
lattice-like structure
geopolitical shift
Indo-Pacific
AUKUS
AUKUS Pillar1
AUKUS Pillar2
strategic multilateralism
minilateralism
hedging strategy
Indo-Pacific Strategy
alliances
structural change
Asia
nuclear-powered submarine cooperation
high-advanced technology
ROK’s diplomatic policy
ROK–US military cooperation
Advisors
Huntley, Wade L.
Date of Issue
2024-12
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The United States’ response to the escalating U.S.–China rivalry is evolving. Rather than focusing solely on bilateral alliances in the Indo-Pacific region, the United States is shifting towards minilateral partnerships, as seen in the formation of the Australia–UK–U.S. trilateral agreement (AUKUS). AUKUS includes nuclear-powered submarine cooperation and advanced science and technology collaboration. These agreements have encouraged nations in the region to join the U.S.-led minilateralism, which has boosted the building of a lattice-like geopolitical structure. As an ally of the United States in the area, the Republic of Korea (ROK) has been influenced by the formation of AUKUS. The ROK has worried about different strategic priorities with the U.S. in the bilateral alliance as the U.S.–China rivalry intensified. These concerns, such as a diminished security commitment to the North Korean threat, deteriorating relations with China, and a loss of autonomy in the bilateral alliance, led the ROK to seek strategic ambiguity between the U.S. and China. However, the geopolitical changes fertilized by the AUKUS partnership have given the ROK a new way to pursue its national interest, which has led to a shift in the ROK’s strategy. By joining the U.S.-led minilateralism on specific issues, the ROK can not only enhance the ROK–U.S. alliance while securing its autonomy but also pursue economic and technological interests while mitigating the risk of China’s potential backlash.
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