The United States has launched a new cooperation framework with South Korea, one of its key allies, in the contested Indo-Pacific region as it seeks to keep China in check.
The announcement was made following a meeting between the U.S. and South Korea at the Pentagon, where U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his South Korean counterpart, Kim Yong Hyun, discussed cooperation on regional security.
The newly established initiative, officially known as the Regional Cooperation Framework for U.S.-ROK Alliance Contributions to Security in the Indo-Pacific, aims to show the alliance is committed to maintaining a free, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
“The United States (U.S.) – Republic of Korea (ROK) Alliance remains the linchpin of peace and security not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in the Indo-Pacific region,” the Pentagon said in a statement, which used the official name of South Korea.