An Ellipsis in Moscow-Seoul Relations |
The analysis of Seoul’s actions leads to the conclusion that expectations for the improvement in Russia-South Korea relations under President Lee Jae-myung have not materialised. The reason for such a situation is not the external factors related to the US policy, but rather the deliberate course of the new South Korean leadership.
Glorifying Nazism? South Korea is In!
The UN General Assembly resolution condemning the glorification of Nazism was supported by 114 countries, with 11 abstaining and 52 states having voted against, including Ukraine, Moldova, and the Baltic states. South Korea also voted against the resolution—a symptomatic move for a nation that, were it not for the Soviet Army, might have lost its national identity.
South Korea does not vote for Russian-sponsored resolutions of this type. However, while under previous Democratic presidents, Seoul abstained, and under the “globalist” Yoon Suk Yeol, a vote against was meant to demonstrate South Korea’s affiliation with the collective West, explaining such “pragmatic diplomacy” by the Lee Jae-myung government is an interesting question. Nothing prevented Singapore and other countries, even more allied with the West, from supporting the resolution.
Russia’s Competitor in the Arms Market
South Korea’s policy in arms trade, including with European allies of Ukraine, continues to develop. Poland is a key importer, meaning South Korean tanks are approaching the border with the Kaliningrad region.
As noted by Alexandra Zueva, an expert at the Institute of World Military Economics and Strategy at the Higher School of Economics, South Korea seeks to present its military-technical cooperation with the West as purely business relations, posing no threat to Russia. However, the reality is different. By 2030, the Republic of Korea plans to become the world’s fourth-largest player in the arms market. To achieve this goal, South Korea intends to overtake Russia and strengthen its positions in both Asian and European markets. Moreover, as part of this strategy, South Korea plans to create a production hub in........