The United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea have issued a joint statement on their meeting held on April 3, 2025, in Brussels. The meeting, attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, focused on strengthening trilateral cooperation and addressing security challenges in both the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions.
“The Secretary and Foreign Ministers emphasized the importance of NATO’s cooperation with Indo-Pacific Partners to ensure the ability to swiftly respond to security developments and challenges in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions,” the statement declared. It also expressed condolences for the impact of wildfires in the Republic of Korea and Japan.
The United States underlined its commitments to the defense of its allies, Japan and the ROK, reiterating its extended deterrence commitments and the role of its nuclear capabilities. Japan and the ROK expressed support for U.S. diplomatic efforts towards China and Russia to mitigate nuclear risks. They stressed their commitment to security cooperation and upholding international laws in the Indo-Pacific, especially in the South China Sea.
On Taiwan, the joint statement highlighted the significance of stability in the Taiwan Strait, expressing unease about military activities in its vicinity. "They encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues and opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo, including by force or coercion."
Efforts towards denuclearizing North Korea were also discussed, with the group opposing DPRK’s military ties with Russia and calling for international action on cyber theft attributed to North Korean actors. They voiced a need for continued vigilance on sanctions and a firm response to any UNSCR violations.
Economic topics included enhancing energy security, diversifying vital supply chains, and advancing technology collaborations. "Standing firmly against economic coercion and unfair trade practices, they reaffirmed their commitment to a free and fair global economic order."
The three nations committed to further trilateral meetings and endorsed upcoming collaborations, such as the second Trilateral Global Leadership Youth Summit in Japan.
