Korea policy continuity and change under Harris or Trump

As the US election intensifies, Korea has become a key focus in the foreign policy agendas of the two candidates, generating both anticipation and concern among Koreans regarding the future of their alliance with the US, their long-standing security, economic, and strategic partner.

The evolving geopolitical landscape of Northeast Asia positions US policy toward the Korean Peninsula as a crucial component of the broader Indo-Pacific strategy. The decisions of the next US administration – whether under Kamala Harris or under Donald Trump – will significantly impact regional stability and global security.

Despite a bipartisan consensus on key objectives, the approaches each administration may take reveal important differences, highlighting the complexities of US foreign policy in the region.

Continuity in strategic objectives: a bipartisan foundation

Central to US policy toward Korea is a bipartisan recognition of the peninsula’s critical strategic significance. This shared understanding is anchored in three key pillars, which both Harris and Trump are likely to uphold regardless of the administration in power:

More than just a military partnership, the US-South Korea alliance serves as a cornerstone of regional stability. It acts as a counterbalance to North Korea’s unpredictable regime and China’s expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific. Both Democratic and Republican perspectives emphasize the necessity of maintaining a strong US military and diplomatic presence in South Korea, viewing it as essential for sustaining peace and deterring aggression in the region.

Despite extensive diplomatic efforts over the past decades, North Korea’s nuclear ambitions remain one of the most pressing security concerns in the region. Both