► For the immediate future, Korea’s role is likely to be limited to the “Quad Plus” arrangement, which joins regional partner countries in issue-specific subgroups, such as supply chain, technology, space, cyber, and vaccines due to Japan’s and China’s disapproval. But given some recent progress in Seoul-Tokyo relations, there is a prospect for deeper Korean involvement in the road ahead. The May 202...

► The reason behind active changing policy directives for South Korea is its quest for national security while maintaining strategic autonomy. ► Today, apart from joining forces with like-minded states to thwart the security concerns plaguing the region (mainly courtesy China and North Korea), economic security (including supply chains), critical technologies, and connectivity are some of the important areas w...

► South Korea has no option but to engage with the QUAD and AUKUS in a way that enhances its own security, strengthens relations with like-minded partners, and hopefully contributes to the stability of the region. ► Ultimately, linking with the Quad and AUKUS will provide South Korea with a stronger basis with which to enhance its role as a key regional and, increasingly, global actor.  ...

► The Yoon Suk Yeol administration has expressed a desire for closer alignment with, and potential membership in, US-led minilateral groupings such as the Quad. ► But it has sent mixed messages about why Korea should join such partnerships, what it wants from them, and what value it can add to them. ► Korea can add its technological and industrial strengths to existing minilateral partnerships but must al...