[News Terms] Establishment of 'Strategic Partnership' Between Korea and Cambodia Leaders

Six Levels of Inter-State Relations, Including Comprehensive Strategic Alliance and Strategic Partnership
Establishment of Korea-Cambodia Diplomatic Relations, Expansion of Bilateral Exchanges and Strengthening of Sectoral Cooperation

President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit with Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 16th and adopted the "Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Korea-Cambodia Strategic Partnership."

Cambodia is one of the fastest-growing countries in ASEAN. This is the first visit by a Cambodian leader to Korea in 10 years since Prime Minister Hun Sen's official visit in December 2014. In the joint statement, the two leaders evaluated the development of relations in various fields since the reestablishment of diplomatic ties in 1997 and agreed to define bilateral relations as a "strategic partnership."

A "strategic partnership" is one of the "levels" that represent friendly relations between countries. It can be described as a relationship in which the two countries cooperate while discussing peace-seeking, regional issues, international affairs, and external strategies together.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is shaking hands with Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, and taking a commemorative photo at the Korea-Cambodia summit held on the 16th at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The word "strategic" implies the need for close cooperation in various areas such as economy and politics. In diplomacy, the terms "strategic" or "comprehensive" are often used. The word "comprehensive" includes the meaning of countries sharing common values.

Korea has established "strategic partnerships" with many countries including India, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Uzbekistan, Mexico, Algeria, Romania, Kazakhstan, the European Union (EU), ASEAN, T?rkiye (Turkey), Thailand, Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy, Austria, Spain, Mongolia, and Hungary.

Korea classifies bilateral relations into six major levels: Comprehensive Strategic Alliance --> Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership --> Strategic Partnership --> Full Cooperation Partnership --> Mutually Trusting Comprehensive Partnership --> Comprehensive Partnership. Depending on the situation, agreements between countries, and fields, additional terms may be added to each level.

The closest relationship is the "Comprehensive Strategic Alliance," which applies to countries with important military alliances. The United States is the only country with which Korea has this relationship. Next is the "Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership," which includes countries such as Australia, Peru, Canada, and Vietnam.

The "Strategic Cooperative Partnership" means maintaining solid cooperation and partnership in various fields such as politics, security, diplomacy, economy, and cultural exchange, second only to alliances. Countries like China, Russia, and Colombia have this relationship. The "Comprehensive Partnership" includes countries like France and Brazil.

With the United Kingdom, last year, to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the existing "Broad and Creative Partnership" was upgraded to a "Global Strategic Partnership." With Japan, the relationship is described as a "future-oriented mature partnership." Although it is practically close to a strategic partnership, the term "strategic" is not used due to public sentiment stemming from past colonial rule.

Even among countries at the same level, expressions differ, making it difficult to evaluate which countries have closer ties. The government also holds the position that "it is advantageous to leave it ambiguous to allow various interpretations." As these diplomatic relations between countries illustrate, the terms used vary by country. Korea-China and Korea-Russia relations are precisely "Strategic Cooperative Partnerships," Korea-Indonesia is a "Special Strategic Partnership," and Korea-ASEAN is a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership."

Korea and Cambodia previously had no specific designation for their diplomatic relations. With the Korea-Cambodia summit between President Yoon and Prime Minister Manet, the Korea-Cambodia relationship has been established as a strategic partnership, and the two countries have agreed to strengthen political, security, and defense cooperation, including expanding exchanges between the executive and legislative branches and enhancing responses to transnational crimes such as drug trafficking.