A Beginning of New Global Partnership? The ROK-US Relations under Biden and Moon

Abstract

After four years of unorthodox presidency by Donald Trump, Americans elected Joe Biden, a seasoned politician and a moderate liberal, as the 46th president of the United States in 2020. Among others, Biden came to office pledging to restore American leadership on the global stage, saying America is back at the table. In the meantime, Bidens counterpart in Seoul, President Moon Jae-in, was in his final year in office as South Korea elected a new president from the opposition Peoples Power Party in March 2022. Over the past five years, Moon worked hard to establish good relations with both the Trump and Biden administrations, while pushing for his peace initiative with North Korea. However, Moons plans to restart inter-Korean dialogue and economic cooperation failed as North Korea upped the ante with its new round of missile testing against Bidens strategic patience on the nuclear issue. Meanwhile, Seoul came under increasing pressure from intensifying US–China competition as the Biden administration doubled down on the Indo-Pacific strategy of characterizing China as a major threat. In this context, Moons first summit meeting with President Biden came as a critical test for the ROK–US alliance as well as US–North Korea policy under the new Biden administration. After their summit in May 2021, Moon and Biden announced the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relationship, in which the allies would look beyond the Korean peninsula—and their security relationship—to tap new opportunities for collaboration. The United States and South Korea agreed to find new ways to harmonize their signature regional initiatives—the Free and Open Indo-Pacific vision and the New Southern Policy, respectively—in pursuit of regional coordination on law enforcement, cybersecurity, public health, and promoting a green recovery. South Korea overcame some of its concerns about the Quad, and opened the door to cooperation in some form. Significantly, the two allies outlined an extensive package of joint projects on various global issues such as combating climate change and advancing decarbonization; accelerating the production and global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and strengthening global public health institutions; and the development of critical and emerging technologies. The Moon– Biden summit was a significant landmark for the U.S.–ROK alliance. History may judge the Moon–Biden summit as the beginning of a new era of ROK–US partnership that Seoul can play a greater role in managing the challenges beyond the Korean peninsula in coordination with the United States and other democracies.