Newly elected US President Trump and outgoing President Joe Biden.
Lime: Trump’s explosive return in the 2024 US presidential election has created a stir in many countries around the world. The reason is clear: Trump is known for his brave and fearless style of running government from Europe to Asia. This is the reason why many countries allied to the United States also fear Trump’s return. Many countries face the threat of breaking the alliance due to Trump’s return to the United States. Faced with such a situation, to give confidence to allied countries, outgoing President Joe Biden met and held a meeting with the leaders of Japan and South Korea on Friday. Biden has sought to strengthen the US-Japan-South Korea alliance to deepen cooperation against Chinese aggression.
Biden has held this meeting to consolidate his diplomatic advances even before the start of the new Trump administration. During this, Trump tried to reassure all those countries that fear breaking the alliance due to Trump’s return. This latest meeting between Washington and its two closest Asian allies with Biden occurred at a time when Donald Trump is set to take power on January 20. In such a situation, apart from America’s allies, rival countries are beginning to fear a further deterioration in relations.
Conflict with Beijing and Iran may escalate
Trump’s return could further escalate the conflict with China, the United States’ archrival. At the same time, Trump may also target Iran and North Korea. China also faces the threat of further deterioration in relations with the United States because Trump has already promised a sharp increase in tariffs, which may shake the Chinese economy. In such a situation, Chinese President Xi Jinping has worried about Trump’s return to the United States. There is also the danger that, due to their arrival, many American companies will close their business from China.
Tension over the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia against Ukraine
The biggest challenge facing Trump is the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia in the war against Ukraine. This has increased tension from Europe to Asia. Apart from this, North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs have also reduced the chances of a peaceful resolution of its decades-long conflict with South Korea. Because of this, tension is rising in Asia.
The United States issued a joint statement.
“Japan, South Korea and the United States jointly call on Russia to call on the leaders of North Korea and Russia to condemn Russia’s aggression in Ukraine as a dangerous war,” Biden said in a statement after the meeting, referring to South Korea and North Korea by their official names “Strongly condemns the decision to extend the deadline.” Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba were present at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru. After the meeting, the three countries announced the creation of a trilateral secretariat, and US national security advisor Jake Sullivan announced the creation of a trilateral secretariat to formalize the relationship and ensure that it is not simply “a series of meetings”.
The three countries are willing to talk face to face with China.
Rather, convincing South Korea and Japan to work together is one of the diplomatic achievements of Biden’s soon-to-end four-year term as president. Biden sees the close ties between the United States, Japan and South Korea as a bulwark against China’s aggressive moves in the region. However, Beijing rejects it. South Korean President Yoon also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba and US President Joe Biden are also willing to hold face-to-face talks with Xi during the APEC summit. (Reuters)
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