December 17, 2021 - The Asia Foundation held an Australia-Republic of Korea-United States Trilateral Dialogue on 16 and 17 December. During this meeting, policymakers, scholars and other experts discussed key political, security, economic, and international cooperation issues important to improve and strengthen relations between the three countries. The Dialogue was conducted virtually with participants including James Choi, former Australian Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Kathleen Stephens, former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, and Representative Park Jin, member of Korea’s National Assembly and Power People Party Chairman of the Special Committee on Diplomacy & Security.

Korean and US relations with Australia have deepened over the years. Overlapping strategic and economic interests have increasingly seen all three countries expand ties across a wide spectrum of issues. Issues discussed in this trilateral dialogue included: 

1. Political-Security trends and challenges in the Indo-Pacific and what these trends and challenges mean for Australia, Korea and the United States.

2. Domestic determinants of foreign policy and what these mean for the trilateral relationship.   

3. Global economic trends: supply chains, energy, and prospects for a post-COVID recovery

4. Prospects for enhanced economic cooperation and coordination between the three countries to shape rules and norms for regional economic cooperation    

The Asia Foundation’s International Relations Program and the Foundation’s Korea country office in Seoul organized this trilateral dialogue in cooperation with Perth USAsia Centre in Australia. The Dialogue was made possible through financial support from the Australia-Korea Foundation, an organization established in 1992 by the Australian government to promote and deepen relations between the ROK and Australia. The Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI) also provided support for this project.

Future trilateral dialogues are planned to be held in the Republic of Korea, Australia, and in the United States as travel restrictions permit.

The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives across a dynamic and developing Asia. Working through its offices in 18 countries and informed by deep local expertise and six decades of experience, the Foundation addresses five overarching goals—strengthen governance, empower women, expand economic opportunity, increase environmental resilience, and promote international cooperation.

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