Experts see growing links between European, Asian security amid Ukraine war

Participants of the Inaugural Strategic Dialogue hosted by the International Policy Studies Institute (IPSI) and Hungary’s Danube Institute pose for a group photo before the event begins at the Korea Military Academy in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of IPSI

Security developments in Europe and East Asia are becoming increasingly intertwined in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, experts said at the Inaugural Strategic Dialogue in Seoul last week.

Participants said the war had accelerated debate over whether to view crises in different regions as part of a broader strategic environment rather than isolated regional challenges. They also pointed to growing pressure from the United States for allies to assume greater responsibility for their own defense, as well as expanding opportunities for Europe-Asia cooperation in fields such as defense and advanced technologies.

The discussion took place at the Korea Military Academy, where the International Policy Studies Institute (IPSI) and Hungary’s Danube Institute jointly hosted the event, titled “Changing Dynamics of Geopolitics in Europe and East Asia: Assessing Constraints and Opportunities for Cooperation.”

Hong Kyu-dok, president of IPSI, said the forum was intended to promote deeper exchanges between experts from Europe and Asia as geopolitical risks continue to grow.

“This forum aims to provide an important platform for dialogue and cooperation between the two regions,” Hong said in his opening remarks.

Istvan Szerdahelyi, Hungary’s ambassador to Korea, also attended.

In his welcome address, Hyun In-taek, former unification minister and chairman of IPSI, said the international security environment has entered a period of growing uncertainty.

“The situation today is becoming more volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous,” Hyun said, emphasizing the importance of dialogue among policymakers and scholars.

Park Jae-jeok, a professor at Yonsei University’s Graduate School of International Studies, said conflicts in different regions are becoming more closely linked.

“The war in Ukraine, the Taiwan Strait and the Korean Peninsula are strategically interconnected,” Park said, noting that developments in one region increasingly influence strategic calculations in others.

Park also said questions about the credibility of U.S. extended deterrence are emerging in both regions, although the security environment in Europe and East Asia differ in important ways.

Istvan Kiss, executive director of the Danube Institute, said the war in Ukraine has exposed structural vulnerabilities in Europe’s economic and security model, particularly its previous reliance on cheap Russian energy.

He said the conflict has also increased pressure on European countries to strengthen their own defense capabilities as the United States shifts greater strategic attention toward Asia. Kiss added that Europe’s growing rearmament efforts could create opportunities for deeper cooperation with partners such as Korea in defense and energy sectors.

Kim In-han, an associate professor of political science and international relations at Ewha Womans University, said the broader geopolitical environment is becoming increasingly unpredictable.

“The international security environment is becoming increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous,” Kim said.

He added that modern conflicts are increasingly shaped by industrial capacity and supply chains, highlighting the importance of cooperation among allies and partners.

The discussion also addressed how domestic political debates in the U.S. may influence alliance dynamics.

Sean Nottoli, a visiting fellow at the Danube Institute and a former regional director for Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, said the “America First” approach should not necessarily be interpreted as a retreat from alliances.

“'America First' is not America only,” Nottoli said. He stated that discussions in Washington increasingly focus on asking U.S. allies to shoulder a larger share of the defense burden.

The discussion also turned to cooperation between Europe and Asia in key technologies such as semiconductors.

Eric Hendriks, a visiting fellow at the Danube Institute and director of the China Initiative of the Telos-Paul Piccone Institute, pointed to the semiconductor industry as a key example of strategic interdependence between the two regions.

“Middle powers that share values must form a critical mass in the international community,” Hendriks said. He noted that Europe and Korea possess complementary strengths in semiconductor supply chains.

“We need the semiconductors South Korea produces, and South Korea needs the lithography machinery required to manufacture them,” he said.

Participants said the war in Ukraine has reinforced the perception that security developments in Europe and East Asia are increasingly intertwined. As geopolitical competition intensifies, they said cooperation between allies and partners across the two regions is likely to become more important for maintaining stability in the years ahead.