From January 14 to 16, 2025, the 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) was convened amidst a rapidly evolving international political landscape and the inauguration of the second Trump administration, which has rejected traditional foreign policy frameworks. This year’s conference drew significant attention due to the overlapping challenges arising from shifts in international politics and U.S. foreign policy. One of the major highlights was the Russia-Ukraine War, with leaders and policymakers focusing on efforts to create conditions conducive to peace negotiations for ending the ongoing war.
However, despite its substantial stake in the MSC’s multilateral setting, Europe’s influence was strikingly weak as the second Trump administration has augmented the role of power politics. Another limitation of the MSC this year was participants’ tendency to assert their own priorities instead of formulating fundamental responses to critical challenges. Meanwhile, South Korea seized the opportunity to reaffirm its diplomatic standings. In its first foreign ministers’ meeting with the new U.S. administration, the two sides reiterated their commitment to the denuclearization of North Korea. Moreover, a joint statement following the ROK-U.S.-Japan trilateral ministers’ meeting demonstrated the strength and effectiveness of Korean diplomacy. However, the 61st MSC also served as a stark reminder that relying solely on the traditional assumptions about the robust ROK-U.S. proves insufficient to safeguard national security and interests under the second Trump administration. Therefore, the Korean government needs to capitalize on insights from this year’s MSC to adapt swiftly to Washington’s policy shifts under Trump’s renewed leadership to protect and advance its national interest and security.
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