Nato diplomacy in a multilayered world

SOUTH Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s participation in this year’s Nato summit and his commitment to expanding defense industrial cooperation with the alliance have received widespread praise at home. Supporters view the visit as an opportunity to strengthen Korea’s defense industry and deepen strategic cooperation with like-minded partners. The visit has also drawn criticism. Some analysts argue that closer ties with Nato will pull South Korea further into the alliance’s strategic orbit, damage relations with China and Russia, and ultimately undermine efforts to resolve issues on the Korean Peninsula. Others warn that expanding arms exports could tarnish South Korea’s image…