Ex-top US envoy says geopolitical challenges in Indo-Pacific cannot be looked at in 'stovepiped way'
Former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris speaks during a media roundtable on the margins of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity on Jeju Island, Friday. Yonhap
Geopolitical challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, including North Korean threats and an assertive China, cannot be treated independently of each other but should be dealt with in a "holistic" approach, a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea said Friday.
Retired U.S. Adm. Harry Harris, former top U.S. envoy to Seoul under President Donald Trump's first administration, made the remark amid growing speculation the United States may reduce the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) for regional contingencies.
U.S. defense officials have indicated the Trump administration is looking to recalibrate the U.S. force posture with a primary focus on deterring China, leaving open the possibility of a drawdown of the USFK.
"I do not believe that in 2025, we can afford the luxury of looking at the different problem sets in the Indo-Pacific independent of each other," Harris said in a media roundtable on the margins of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity.
"In other words, we can't look at Taiwan in a stovepiped way; we can't look at North Korea in a stovepiped way; we can't look at China in a stovepiped way. We have to look holistically at the challenges that present themselves to the United States and our allies in the Indo-Pacific," he said.
While stressing that the troop drawdown idea remains hypothetical, Harris said it would serve to defend South Korea better.
"If there was a restructuring of some forces in Korea, those forces would be better positioned elsewhere in order to meet all of the challenges that confront the United States and our allies," he said.
Harris dismissed concerns in South Korea that the troop reduction would erode U.S. deterrence for its ally against North Korea.
"In case of a war with North Korea, it would be augmented by troops from other locations throughout the Indo-Pacific and the United States. I don't believe that any restructuring would weaken the U.S. commitment to South Korea," he said.
Underscoring the importance of advancing the trilateral relationship among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, Harris said it is critical to keep the positive momentum going for Seoul's bilateral ties with Tokyo that greatly improved under the Yoon Suk Yeol government.
"Without a strong bilateral relationship, we cannot have a strong trilateral relationship," Harris said.
On the prospect of another summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Harris said nothing can be ruled out.
"I couldn't believe in 2018 that the U.S. president and the leader of North Korea would ever meet," he said. "I've been wrong before. I can be optimistic and hope that I'm wrong again, but we have to deal with reality every day."