NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization

NATO – Republic of Korea cooperation

From left to right: Yu Myung-hwan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea shaking hands with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea Yu Myung-hwan shaking hands with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, before delivering an address to the North Atlantic Council (May 2010).

In addition to its partnership frameworks¹, NATO cooperates with a range of countries on a bilateral basis. Referred to as “partners across the globe,” they share similar strategic concerns and key Alliance values. Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand are all examples of global partners. The Strategic Concept adopted at the 2010 Lisbon Summit paved the way for a more flexible partnership policy offering all partners the same basis of cooperation and dialogue.

NATO and the Republic of Korea initiated dialogue in 2005. At that time, the then Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon addressed the North Atlantic Council. Since then, relations have evolved through regular high-level talks with the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In July 2010, Assistant Secretary General Dirk Brengelmann travelled to Seoul to hold discussions with officials from the Foreign Ministry. He hosted the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs at a subsequent round of high-level discussions, which introduced a new dimension of cooperation on emerging security challenges.

The Republic of Korea is interested in active cooperation with NATO Allies and partners in areas related to peace-support operations, arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, and education and training.

The Republic of Korea also contributes to stabilization efforts in Afghanistan. The country is leading an integrated civilian-military Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Parwan province. The Republic of Korea has made a generous US$ 500 million contribution to the Afghan National Army Trust Fund.