Author: Reuben F. Johnson, Sebastian Czub

The Republic of Korea (ROK) has become a key European defence partner – and has achieved success in this regard to a level that was perhaps previously not thought possible. In the process the Asian technology and industrial powerhouses that are the ROK defence enterprises have changed the security environment in the EU in a way that will affect the development of Asian-European defence cooperation for the foreseeable future.

The notable contributions by the ROK towards building a more stable security environment in Europe were discussed in detail last year in an essay published by the Atlantic Council. “Over the past two decades, South Korea has transformed from a regional security partner into a global security provider,” reads the analysis by David F. Helvey. “This evolution has significant implications for both the Indo-Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic, where challenges are increasingly interlinked. As Russia’s aggression against Ukraine continues bolstered by material support from China and North Korea—the dividing lines between these theatres have disappeared. What happens in Europe now reverberates across the Indo-Pacific,” reads the essay. That latter point might be of some interest to many of the national security “experts” in Washington, DC. There was no shortage of them – particularly from the end of 2021 up to 24 February
2022 invasion – telling all of us that they were absolutely certain that whatever Russia decided to do with Ukraine, whether they invaded their neighbour or not, it would have no impact on and no relevance to the security relationships with Asian nations. Fortunately for Europe in general and the Ukrainians in particular, a plethora of evidence to the contrary has emerged in the meantime.

Supported by the Korea Foundation