Amidst Global Crises, Europe Urges Closer Ties with South Korea

A delegation of European Parliament members, led by César Luena, head of the EU Parliament's delegation for relations with the Korean Peninsula, recently visited South Korea. This visit, the first in three years and eight months since the Ukraine war began, comes at a time of significant global upheaval. The delegation engaged in discussions covering the intensifying North Korea-Russia partnership, potential trade wars under a future Trump presidency, and the escalating crisis in the Middle East involving Gaza and Iran.

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We have witnessed new and aggressive trade policies from the United States, and Europe and Korea have responded in similar ways.

Luena highlighted the need for enhanced cooperation between South Korea and Europe, particularly in light of aggressive trade policies observed in the US. He noted that both Europe and South Korea have responded similarly to these challenges, with South Korea actively defending its interests in both trade and security within the Indo-Pacific region. During a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, discussions focused on strategies to address a potential Trump administration, with both sides agreeing on the importance of patience and maintaining economic ties while upholding shared values.

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We must remember that society and the nation continue to exist regardless of changes in government, and both South Korea and the European Union must deal with the Trump administration with great patience, not only in economic relations with the United States but also as allies who share values.

Luena strongly criticized the US-Iran conflict as an "illegal attack" by President Trump, emphasizing the need for energy and economic security, and advocating for energy transition to mitigate dependencies that could threaten European independence. Regarding North Korea's alignment with Russia and its involvement in the Ukraine war, the European Parliament's stance on denuclearization remains firm. Luena reiterated that the EU supports complete and irreversible denuclearization, rejecting any recognition of North Korea as a nuclear-weapon state.

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The US-Iran war is an 'illegal attack' by President Trump.

Amidst these multifaceted crises, Luena stressed the importance of solidarity among democratic nations. He referenced the January 6th Capitol attack in the US and South Korea's own experience with attempted coups, praising South Korea as a "model of democracy" for its resilience. The delegation's visit included meetings with various South Korean ministries and the National Assembly to discuss pressing issues like the Middle East situation, the Ukraine war, supply chains, and North Korea-Russia relations.

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We defend complete denuclearization, and it must be irreversible.