Biden: "The ROK-US Alliance is a Linchpin"... First Phone Call with Leaders of Korea, Japan, and Australia

President Moon's First Call: "Looking Forward to Close Cooperation on Joint Issues Including North Korea"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] President-elect Joe Biden of the United States held his first phone call with President Moon Jae-in after winning the presidential election, expressing expectations for strengthening the South Korea-U.S. alliance and stating his hope to cooperate on joint challenges, including North Korea. Following consecutive calls with traditional European allies such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, he is focusing on building an alliance front by holding successive phone calls with leaders of Indo-Pacific allies including South Korea, Japan, and Australia.

According to a press release distributed by the Biden transition team on the 11th (local time), President-elect Biden responded with congratulations and thanks during the phone call with President Moon and expressed these views. Biden expressed expectations for strengthening the South Korea-U.S. alliance as a linchpin of security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

The transition team also explained, "President-elect Biden highly evaluated President Moon’s strong leadership in the COVID-19 pandemic and pledged to cooperate on resolving the pandemic, building global health security, and recovering the world economy." Biden also said he looks forward to closely cooperating with President Moon on shared challenges ranging from North Korea to climate change.

The transition team stated that President-elect Biden and President Moon discussed mutual interests in strengthening democracy as well as shared values that support the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

On the same day, in addition to President Moon, President-elect Biden also held his first phone calls after his victory confirmation with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

During the phone call with Prime Minister Suga, Biden emphasized the U.S.-Japan alliance and shared recognition that the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty applies to the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, which Japan and China dispute over sovereignty (known as Diaoyu Islands in Chinese). They also agreed to cooperate on COVID-19, climate change response, and strengthening democracy.

Furthermore, in the phone call with Prime Minister Morrison, President-elect Biden emphasized that the United States and Australia share values and history, mentioning that they have fought together in all conflicts since World War I. Biden also urged cooperation with Morrison on global health crises including COVID-19, climate change, foundational work for global economic recovery, and strengthening democracy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.