► The June 2023 joint statement issued by the EU and South Korea following from their bilateral summit symbolised where their relationship stands today: a comprehensive partnership covering all aspects of economics, politics, and security. From the perspective of the EU and its member states, South Korea and Japan are the top partners in Asia and the Indo-Pacific. ► And the relationship is only going to streng...

► The EU and Japan, traditionally focused on shared values and trade, now exhibit unprecedented strategic alignment due to shifting global security dynamics, China’s assertiveness, and shared security concerns through events like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. ► The 2019 Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) broadened cooperation into trade, technology, environment, and security, creating a new ph...

► Once China opened up again to the world after the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU updated its strategy towards China. ► Although EU-China policy is criticized for lacking consistency among its member states, there is a widespread consensus on some key points:  i) China is a partner, competitor, and rival, so the EU must build a constructive relationship with it.  ii) The degree of China’s s...

► Over the past three decades, the EU’s approach towards North Korea has shifted from a policy of “critical engagement” to a “standstill”, and is now on the verge of irrelevance.  ► As recent developments have brought the North Korea problem closer to Europe, a renewed approach to North Korea is needed based on a comprehensive evaluation of the EU’s critical engagement strategy. ...