[Square] President's Attendance at NATO Summit is a Stepping Stone for a Global Hub Nation

[Asia Economy] The Belgian capital, Brussels, is home to the headquarters of the two major pillars of Western society: the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). While the EU is where European integration plans are devised and policies implemented, NATO is an organization specialized in security assurance.

South Korea, already a key partner of the EU, has now been invited to the NATO summit. For the first time in history, our president will attend the NATO summit and discuss solutions to pressing global security issues with the leaders of NATO's 30 allied and partner countries.

Looking at the first overseas trips of past South Korean presidents, most were bilateral visits to allied countries. President Yoon’s first overseas trip will be to the NATO summit held in Madrid, Spain. This can be seen as an expression of the will to realize the vision of a global pivotal state by contributing to the promotion of universal human values and actively participating in international issues.

NATO is a collective defense organization for Europe and North America, but European security cannot be separated from security issues in the Asia-Pacific region. The ongoing war in Ukraine caused by Russia’s invasion is a case in point. Although it is happening in the heart of the European continent, nothing related to oil prices, energy and food supply, or supply chains is unrelated to us.

Even aside from the Russia-Ukraine war, global security is already closely interconnected. Transnational emerging threats such as the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI), cyber technology for spreading disinformation, and climate change are not confined to any one region; they cross borders and regions, making anyone a potential target.

The era when European security could be maintained solely within the European continent, or Asian security solely through cooperation among regional countries, has passed. This is also why participation in the NATO summit cannot be interpreted as taking sides or targeting any specific country.

The NATO summit will also provide an important opportunity to strengthen bonds among leaders of partner countries that share democratic values such as ‘freedom,’ ‘human rights,’ and ‘equality,’ and to lay the foundation for cooperation. Bilateral meetings with leaders of major NATO allies and summit-level consultations aimed at promoting peace in the Asia-Pacific region are already being prepared.

NATO is the largest and most solid military and security platform on Earth. As security threats themselves have become globalized, NATO is increasing its interest in cooperation with Asia-Pacific partners.

Secretary General Stoltenberg recommended in the ‘NATO 2030’ report submitted at the NATO summit held in Brussels last June that NATO strengthen cooperation with Asia-Pacific partner countries to respond to the rapidly changing international security environment.

Inviting Asia-Pacific partner countries, including us, to this summit appears to reflect this recommendation. Having maintained a global partnership since 2006, we are expected to further develop our cooperative relationship with NATO through participation in this summit.

The world recognizes South Korea as a country where continuous innovation occurs despite chronic security threats, and as a nation with an attractive culture. Expectations for us are high, and there are calls for expanding our contributions and roles in global governance.

The NATO summit will serve as a stepping stone to enhance our role as a ‘global pivotal state’ based on ‘values.’

Yoon Soon-gu, Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union