South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to initiate the country’s first summit with Pacific island leaders today, as Seoul aims to expand its influence in a region that has become a focal point for intense geopolitical rivalry. President Yoon unveiled his administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy last year, committing to promote a “free, peaceful and prosperous” region based on a rules-based order. This comes amid concerns regarding China’s security goals for the strategic waters and economic influence among the small island nations.
Over the weekend, the South Korean president conducted bilateral discussions with some of the visiting Pacific leaders, including Kiribati President Taneti Maamau and Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape. Yoon’s office stated that the president addressed the topics of expanding reciprocal cooperation…
