‘Pragmatism' in focus as Lee Jae Myung skips NATO summit

Korea Herald

24-06-2025

S. Korean security adviser to join as Japan sends FM; conservatives attack Lee for sacrificing national interest
President Lee Jae Myung's decision not to attend the NATO summit in the Netherlands has brought his 'pragmatic' foreign policy approach into renewed focus while triggering attacks from conservatives.
Lee had considered participating in the NATO summit but decided not to, his office said Sunday, in the face of "various domestic issues and uncertainties due to developments in the Middle East."
Skipping the NATO trip deprives Lee of a chance to sit down for talks with Trump, as well as with leaders of European countries that South Korea sees as partners in the defense industry and regional security, prompting criticism from the conservative main opposition People Power Party.
"Why is (Lee) averting chances to coordinate with allies amid unrest in the Middle East? Is Seoul forfeiting opportunities while pursuing pragmatic diplomacy for national interest?" Rep. Kim Seok-ki, a lawmaker with the People Power Party, said Monday.
"We are concerned that from the standpoint of China and Russia, South Korea may be seen as the weakest link among US allies" Kim added, noting that Lee's absence at the NATO summit could "trigger speculations that the Lee administration may be placing its priority on China, Russia and North Korea, rather than its allies and partners."
Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Kim Hyun-jung countered that the Lee administration's pragmatic diplomacy based on the Korea-US alliance will remain steadfast despite Lee's absence at the summit, urging the conservative party to stop using smear campaigns based on ideological differences.
"Will (the tariff issues) be resolved if we just rush to the NATO summit?" said Democratic Party Rep. Kim. "At the center of pragmatic diplomacy lies the national interest. We should wisely resolve pending issues between the two countries while protecting national interests."
NATO revealed that a meeting between the NATO secretary-general, US President Donald Trump and the leaders of NATO partners in the Indo-Pacific region is set to take place at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday in The Hague. However, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is the only head of state expected to attend out of the four countries — Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea — as of press time.
Lee's office announced Monday that his national security aide, Wi Sung-lac, will attend the summit on behalf of Lee. Tokyo also unveiled Monday that Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will head to the Netherlands on behalf of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, reversing its earlier confirmation of Ishiba's trip. Australia will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.
Still, some experts believe that Lee's attendance at the NATO summit could have made a difference in navigating the external uncertainties, from the perspective of pursuing national interests.
One expert suggested that Lee may have considered South Korea's ties with China in his decision, while also noting his interest in confidence-building with North Korea. Signs of reengagement with the latter remain limited, however, aside from his move to halt the operation of propaganda loudspeakers along the inter-Korean border.
"President Lee decided not to attend (the summit) given that the focus of Trump's attention is on Iran and allied defense spending, rather than on a tariff deal with Seoul, and perhaps also out of concern that a strongly worded joint statement could offend China," said Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.
"Seoul will be on alert for how conflict in the Middle East reverberates in Asia," Easley added.
Not attending the NATO summit "isn't only a missed opportunity" to help defend the international order by supporting Ukraine and coordinating responses to conflict in the Middle East, said Easley.
"Seoul needs greater cooperation with NATO countries regarding Russia before Moscow's illegal military trade and exchanges with Pyongyang destabilize the Korean Peninsula."
Another expert called Lee's decision not to attend the NATO summit a "mistake" because his presence there could have convinced Seoul's Western partners that he values Europe and understands the connection between security in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions.
"This is diplomatic low-hanging fruit that Lee is not grabbing," said Mason Richey, professor of international politics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.
"It's also a chance to further cement South Korea's role as an arms exporter to Europe, and perhaps make some connection with European leaders of states who could become future South Korean weapons customers," he added.