On 24 June, the EU and the Republic of Korea held their fourth consultations on security and defence by video conference. They discussed policy developments, including the security and defence aspects of the EU Strategy on the Indo-Pacific, as well as regional and international issues. They also discussed the maritime security situation in the Gulf of Guinea, where the EU has launched a pilot project for its Coordinated Maritime Presences Concept.
The EU stands ready to support the leading role of the Republic of Korea in new diplomatic efforts to build sustainable peace, security and the complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula in line with UN Security Council resolutions.
The Republic of Korea participates actively in EU Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta(link is external) for the fight against piracy in the Horn of Africa. The EU and the Republic of Korea agreed to enhance their cooperation and share experience on maritime security and on crisis management through joint initiatives under the EU project Enhancing Cooperation in and with Asia (ESIWA).
The consultations were co-chaired by Ms Joanneke Balfoort, Director for Security and Defence Policy of the European External Action Service, and by Mr Sangjin Kim, Director General of the International Policy Bureau at the Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense.
Source: Republic of Korea: Consultations on security and defence