Focus versus format: An American view of South Korea's regional engagement

Abstract

The United States and South Korea are both shifting their engagement in the Indo-Pacific, but in fundamentally different ways. In recent years, Washington has altered the format of its engagement in the region—shifting toward an increasingly minilateral approach seen in the Quad and AUKUS arrangements. On the other hand, Seoul has sought primarily to alter the focus of its engagement—shifting from a narrow focus on the Korean Peninsula toward a broader regional approach. In other words, American leaders have adjusted the format of their engagement while Korean leaders have adjusted the focus of their engagement. This has created a disconnect. As South Korea has aligned its focus to that of the United States, Seoul has expected Washington to integrate South Korea more deeply into American regional strategy. Yet, US efforts to build minilaterals have seldom included South Korea. Addressing this divide will require leaders in both capitals to adjust their approaches to both focus and format in the Indo-Pacific.