Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink participated in the second Trilateral Indo-Pacific Dialogue held in Tokyo on December 11, 2024. The meeting brought together Japan’s Director General Kobe Yasuhiro and Republic of Korea’s (ROK) Special Representative for the Indo-Pacific Chung Eui-Hae, highlighting the shared commitment to advancing stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
Focus on Regional Geopolitical Trends
The dialogue provided a platform for the three sides to exchange views on key geopolitical trends shaping the Indo-Pacific. Discussions underscored the importance of continued trilateral cooperation, particularly through partnerships with Southeast Asian and Pacific Island nations.
Key areas of focus included:
- Regional Security and Stability: Reaffirming the commitment to upholding international law, including freedom of navigation and overflight.
- Maritime Security: Praising the announcement of the trilateral maritime security and law enforcement framework and exploring further steps to enhance maritime security capacity building in the region.
- Economic Security and Resilience: Highlighting the need for collaboration to support infrastructure development, economic resilience, and environmental sustainability.
Advancing Cooperation
The dialogue emphasized the importance of deepening trilateral cooperation to address shared challenges and advance common goals. Among the initiatives discussed were:
- Strengthening coordination on maritime security initiatives to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.
- Enhancing economic partnerships to support regional development and resilience.
- Promoting environmental resilience as part of broader efforts to ensure sustainable development in the region.
Commitment to Regular Engagement
Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink, Director General Kobe, and Special Representative Chung reaffirmed their dedication to maintaining annual trilateral dialogues. They agreed to continue close coordination on issues of mutual concern, emphasizing the shared goal of fostering a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
A Shared Vision for the Future
The second Trilateral Indo-Pacific Dialogue showcased the deepening partnership among the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. By addressing pressing regional challenges and exploring new avenues for cooperation, the dialogue reaffirmed the three nations’ shared commitment to promoting peace, security, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific.