Seoul: South Korea, the United States, and Japan are reportedly planning to hold trilateral talks involving their top diplomats during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting this week, as indicated by sources on Tuesday. These discussions aim to arrange a meeting possibly on Wednesday afternoon, following summit discussions between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this potential meeting would mark the first occasion for Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to convene since the formation of Japan’s new cabinet under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who recently assumed leadership. The meeting could serve as an opportunity for the three nations to reaffirm their commitment to enhancing their trilateral partnership.
Concerns have emerged regarding the future of this trilateral cooperation, particularly since President Trump began his second term with an “America First” policy and imposed aggressive tariffs on key Asian allies, including South Korea and Japan. Additionally, the recent election of Japan’s first female leader, known for her hard-line stance on historical issues related to Japan’s colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula, has added uncertainty to the relations between South Korea and Japan.
While the trilateral meeting involving top diplomats is under discussion, a three-way meeting between leaders Lee, Trump, and Takaichi seems unlikely at this time, according to the sources.