The governments of the United States, Japan, and South Korea have released a joint statement following a trilateral meeting in Brussels. The meeting was attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul. The primary focus was on strengthening trilateral cooperation to enhance safety, security, and prosperity in their respective countries and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
The officials "emphasized the importance of NATO’s cooperation with Indo-Pacific Partners" to respond swiftly to security developments in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions. They also extended condolences for the damage and loss of life caused by wildfires in Japan and South Korea.
The United States reaffirmed its "ironclad commitments to the defense of Japan and the ROK," while Japan and South Korea expressed support for U.S. efforts to engage China and Russia in reducing nuclear risks. Joint resistance to "unlawful maritime claims" and actions destabilizing the Taiwan Strait were highlighted, along with support for Taiwan's participation in international organizations.
On the issue of North Korea, the statement reiterated a commitment to the "complete denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea" and addressed concerns over North Korean military cooperation with Russia. The parties also expressed worry over North Korean cyber activities and vowed to curb these through international cooperation.
In terms of economic security, the statement promised continued enhancement of energy security and supply chain diversification, particularly through collaboration under the Minerals Security Partnership. There was also a reaffirmation of commitment to a free and fair global economic order, alongside support for South Korea’s hosting of APEC 2025.
The meeting concluded with a pledge to maintain regular trilateral meetings and an announcement of the upcoming second Trilateral Global Leadership Youth Summit in Japan this summer.