We are pleased to present the 3th issue of 2026 of John Lukacs Analyses on Global Affairs is out: 2026/3. The Transformation of Stability in the South Korea–U.S. Alliance and Its Geopolitical Recalibration (1945–2026)
Key insights from this analysis include:
- The South Korea–U.S. alliance has evolved from a military relationship into a complex security, industrial, and technological partnership, increasingly shaped by transactional logic under the second Trump administration.
- “Sovereignty trade” and large-scale industrial investments (e.g., MASGA) are fostering deep integration and enhancing South Korea’s strategic weight.
- Through increased defense spending and burden-sharing, South Korea is not only a beneficiary but also an active contributor to U.S. interests.
- Seoul functions both as a deterrence platform against North Korea and as a key actor in Indo-Pacific cooperation.
- Alliance status is increasingly contingent on economic and technological contributions, creating new pressures for adaptation.
- Traditional alliances are gradually transforming into hybrid systems complemented by economic and industrial integration.
- Competition among allies is intensifying, with economic and technological performance increasingly shaping influence and room for maneuver.
You can read the full paper on the John Lukacs Institute website.