AUKUS Expands Scope to Include South Korea in Advanced Military Technology Sharing, Promoting Regional Peace and Security
The AUKUS partnership, which currently involves the US, UK, and Australia, is considering expanding its scope to include South Korea in sharing advanced military technology. Defense Minister Shin Won-sik of South Korea revealed this during meetings with Australia’s defense and foreign ministers in Melbourne.
Discussions on the possibility of including South Korea in the AUKUS agreement took place during these meetings, with Shin expressing his welcoming of the invitation from the AUKUS partners. He mentioned that South Korea’s defense science and technology capabilities could contribute to regional peace and stability through the development of various security technologies like artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, and hypersonic systems under AUKUS Pillar 2.
Meanwhile, Japan is also in the process of formal talks to join AUKUS Pillar 2 for technology development and sharing. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles commended South Korea’s efforts to strengthen ties with Japan, highlighting the strategic significance of such collaboration in the region. Marles emphasized that cooperation between Korea and Australia aims to uphold the rules-based order in the region and globally.
