US: "No Quad Expansion... Not on the Agenda for ROK-US-Japan Summit"

President Yoon's Campaign Promises During the Presidential Election

Kyodo News and Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on the 14th that Camille Dawson, U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asia and the Pacific, said, "At this point, there are no plans to expand the Quad member countries." The Quad is a U.S.-led consultative group aimed at containing China, currently consisting of four countries: Japan, Australia, India, and the United States.

During a meeting with reporters in Tokyo that day, she said, "South Korea has shown willingness to participate in the Quad's working groups, but there is no indication that it hopes to join as a full member." She also stated that the policy of not expanding the Quad membership is a shared understanding among the four participating countries, and that it "will not be a major agenda item" at the trilateral summit of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan scheduled to be held in the U.S. on the 18th (local time).

Kamil Dawson, U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
[Photo by Yonhap News]

However, Deputy Assistant Secretary Dawson added, "It is possible to expand the scope of Quad activities through cooperation with regional partners," and "Cooperation with partners who have specific expertise or resources is beneficial."

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated during his presidential campaign, "We will pursue a gradual approach by actively participating in the Quad's vaccine, climate change, and new technology working groups to foster functional cooperation, while seeking formal membership later." However, there are concerns that if South Korea steps into the Quad, friction with China will be inevitable, given that the Quad is aimed at China.

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