SEDE MEPs visited South Korea and Japan from 19 to 21 December, where they discussed the new strategic concepts guiding security and defence decisions in both countries.
MEPs explained the EU’s new momentum to develop its security and defence instruments, accelerated due to Russia’s war of aggression, which includes producing the first EU’s defence policy document (the “Strategic Compass”) and encouraged both countries to continue to cooperate with EUNAVFOR Atalanta and explore opportunities of cooperation offered by new EU defence initiatives, including the European Defence Fund and Permanent Structured Cooperation.
In Seoul, MEPs had meetings with the National Assembly, Ministry of Defence, Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, defence industry as well as with UN Command of the Military Armistice Commission during a visit to the Demilitarized Zone. The SEDE delegation arrived as final preparations were being made for the launch of South Korea’s first Indo-Pacific Strategy which is expected to confirm EU-South Korea convergence and strong basis for deeper cooperation, including on security and defence. MEPs also visited the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), in the context of heightened tensions due to growing missile and nuclear threats by North Korea. In this respect, MEPs expressed their solidarity with South Korea and underlined that the international community will not sit by and watch North’s provocation. Chair of the SEDE Delegation, Lukas Mandl underlined after visiting the DMZ, that “Dialogue is the only way to peace, freedom and prosperity for the peninsula and therefore we welcome the Korean government’s new ‘bold initiative’”.
In Tokyo, the SEDE delegation had meetings with the Diet, Ministry of Defence, Cyber Defence Command, Japanese Coast Guard, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister’s Office, think tanks and defence industry. SEDE delegation arrived as the new National Security Strategy of Japan was launched. Like the EU’s new Strategic Compass, the Japanese National Security Strategy identifies a deteriorating geopolitical context, specifically referring to Russia’s war of aggression and China’s attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force. Japanese counterparts noted that China is strengthening its strategic ties with Russia and attempting to challenge the international order. With this convergence of EU-Japan strategic assessments and the shared values and interests of both to maintain and develop a free and open international order in the maritime, air, cyber and aerospace dimensions, MEPs discussed with their Japanese counterparts the urgency to strengthen EU-Japanese partnership on security and defence. Following meetings in Tokyo, the Chair of the SEDE delegation, Lukas Mandl, stated “As both the EU and Japan re-orient their security and defence policies and postures to the geopolitical challenges posed by Russia’s war of aggression and China’s increasingly aggressive military behaviour in the region, it is now more vital than ever that the EU and Japan strengthen their partnership on security and defence.”
Source – EU Parliament