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Трансформация военно-политического альянса РК и США: интересы союзников, направления и перспективы
The article discusses the directions of transformation of the military-political alliance between the Republic of Korea (ROK, South Korea) and the United States, the interests of the allies and prospects for the bilateral alliance. The transformation of the U.S.–ROK alliance is closely related to the search for a rationale for the existence of the alliance in order to preserve it. Both sides are showing interest in preserving the bilateral alliance. The driving force behind the transformation of the alliance is the United States. The USA is interested in maintaining the military presence on the Korean Peninsula due to its strategic importance in the context of geopolitical confrontation with China. According to the Biden administration’s approach, alliances are the basis of U.S. influence in the world, but they require transformation: they must help maintain U.S. dominance in the Indo-Pacific and take a more proactive role in contributing to regional security. The United States supports the military development of the ROK in order to increase its role in the alliance in containing the DPRK and strengthen U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) capabilities so that they can be used as a “regional force” for deployment outside the Korean Peninsula. Under Yoon Seok-yol, the U.S.–ROK alliance has been upgraded to a “global comprehensive strategic alliance”. The 2023 Defense Vision of the U.S.–ROK Alliance outlined three strategic priorities such as extended deterrence; modernizing capabilities to strengthen the combined defense architecture of the Alliance; increasing the ROK contributions to the Indo-Pacific. The ROK is increasingly being incorporated into U.S. military strategy and policy in the Indo-Pacific and Seoul’s space for pursuing a security strategy and policy independent of the United States is narrowing. At the same time, the fact that the ROK has not yet returned wartime operational control over its military indicates a lack of confidence among allies in the broader picture of the alliance’s future. There are limitations to turning the U.S.–ROK alliance into a full-fledged tool for containing China. However, it seems that the transformation of the alliance will continue, otherwise the significance of the alliance with the ROK for the United States may be in question.