US Deputy Secretary of State Nominee Campbell Emphasizes Importance of Hanmi Alliance

U.S. President Joe Biden on the 1st (local time) nominated Kurt Campbell, an Asia expert who has emphasized the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, as Deputy Secretary of State, the second-highest position in the State Department. Campbell currently serves as the White House National Security Council (NSC) Indo-Pacific Coordinator.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

According to the White House, Coordinator Campbell, nominated as Deputy Secretary of State, has overseen U.S. Asia policy addressing issues on the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea, and the hegemonic competition with China since January 20, 2021, when the Biden administration took office.

He previously served as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs during the Barack Obama administration, and was the architect of the 'Pivot to Asia,' shifting the focus of U.S. diplomacy toward the Indo-Pacific region. His 2016 book, The Pivot, argued for strengthening existing alliances such as the South Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral alliance and building close relationships with Indo-Pacific countries in response to China's rise. He is regarded as a key figure well-versed in South Korea-U.S. relations and who places great importance on alliances. It is also reported that he played a major role at the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit held at Camp David during President Yoon Suk-yeol's state visit to the U.S.

This announcement came as President Biden is preparing for a face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled to be held in San Francisco from the 11th to the 17th. The White House announced the day before that a principled agreement had been reached for a U.S.-China summit in November.

Local media also noted the timing amid the prolonged Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict, which have heightened geopolitical risks originating from the Middle East. The congressional-focused media outlet The Hill reported that "the announcement was made while the White House is dealing with several historic foreign policy issues." The Washington Post (WP) stated that if Campbell is confirmed as Deputy Secretary, concerns among Asian allies that the U.S. might neglect the Indo-Pacific region by focusing on the Israel-Hamas conflict as it did during the 'Islamic State' (IS) war ten years ago could be alleviated. Campbell also stated in a speech at a Washington D.C. think tank on the 30th of last month that if confirmed as Deputy Secretary, he would continue to deepen cooperative relationships with Indo-Pacific allies and partners.

The Deputy Secretary of State position has been vacant since Wendy Sherman retired in July. Campbell must be confirmed by the Senate. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Campbell in a memo to staff on the day as a "visionary policymaker."

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