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Why NATO’s Future Depends on Strategic Partners Like South Korea

Why NATO’s Future Depends on Strategic Partners Like South Korea
U.S. Army soldiers wait to board their CH-47 Chinook helicopter during a joint military drill between South Korea and the United States at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex in Pocheon, South Korea, on March 19, 2023. Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo
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Commentary

In an era defined by great power competition, gray zone conflicts, and the erosion of the rules-based international order, NATO is actively broadening its strategic outlook beyond the Euro-Atlantic. Among its most significant emerging partners is the Republic of Korea. While not a member of NATO, South Korea plays an increasingly vital role in advancing NATO’s security interests—both through direct cooperation and as a stabilizing force in the Indo-Pacific. Its growing engagement reflects the recognition that global security challenges are no longer confined by geography and that like-minded democratic partners are essential in defending shared values and deterring common threats.

Jihoon Yu
Jihoon Yu
Author
Jihoon Yu is a research fellow and the director of external cooperation at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses. Jihoon was the member of Task Force for South Korea’s light aircraft carrier project and Jangbogo-III submarine project. He is the main author of the ROK Navy’s “Navy Vision 2045.” His area of expertise includes the ROK-U.S. alliance, the ROK-Europe security cooperation, inter-Korean relations, national security, maritime security, and maritime strategy. He earned his M.A. in National Security Affairs from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and Ph.D. in Political Science from Syracuse University.