Like-minded Middle Powers in the Indo-Pacific: The Case of Australia and South Korea

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong made an important three-stop trip to Laos, Japan, and South Korea on July 26-30. Finally, she held talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul on enhancing the Australia-South Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and also visited the U.N. Command Buildings in the Joint Security Area within the Demilitarized Zone. The fact that she visited South Korea after attending the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo has further underlined the importance of strong collaboration among democracies with shared interests and values. Article 4 of that agreement states that both sides will “provide military and other assistance” in case Russia or North Korea is invaded by “an individual state or several states.” By stressing its CSP with Australia this time, South Korea is sending a message to North Korea that it also has strategic alignments, beyond Japan-South Korea-U.S. trilateral cooperation, that are equally important as North Korea-Russia ties. Australia is South Korea’s largest trading partner in Oceania while South Korea remains among Australia’s top three largest trading partners and export markets.