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In this episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, Dr. Victor Cha, President of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., discusses South Korea’s evolving economic and political landscape with APF Canada Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla.
Cha explores the ‘roller-coaster’ of U.S.-South Korea relations, including the in-depth investment and defence deals announced by U.S. President Trump and Korean President Lee that shocked policy observers, and the unexpected policy direction the East Asian nation has taken in dealing with China. He provides an assessment of South Korea’s militarization strategies in the region and the prospect of North Korea being recognized as a nuclear power by the U.S.
Finally, Dr. Cha reflects on the takeaways from APF Canada’s inaugural Indo-Pacific Forum, hosted on October 1-2, 2025, in Ottawa, and the lessons South Korea could learn from Canada regarding economic diversification and contingency planning in the context of the unpredictable Trump 2.0 Administration.
Please enjoy this episode of Asia Pacific Conversations!
