South Korea’s Yoon to depart for Indonesia for ASEAN Summit

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday will embark on a trip to Indonesia for the 43rd ASEAN Summit continuing till September 7 before landing in New Delhi, India, for the G20 Summit from September 9 – 10, Yonhap News Agency reported.

This will be the second consecutive year Yoon has attended both gatherings, highlighting the importance his administration places on enhancing ties with a region noted for its growing economic potential and strategic position in the US-China rivalry.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines. While ASEAN’s economic potential has grown in recent years, its members remain divided.

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Leaders from the 10-member association and several ASEAN partners will discuss a number of regional issues and possibilities of forging stronger economic integration. US President Joe Biden is set to skip the event this year, sending Vice President Kamala Harris instead.

On Wednesday, Yoon will attend a South Korea-ASEAN Summit and determine the current state of practical cooperation between the two sides while also discussing areas of future cooperation, Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo said, according to Yonhap.

He is scheduled to attend an ASEAN Plus Three Summit on the same day, involving the 10 members and South Korea, China and Japan. On Thursday, the president will be part of the East Asia Summit (EAS) that brings together the ASEAN members and eight other countries.

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Significant Resolutions To Existing Geopolitical Issues Unlikely

Notably, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend the ASEAN-India Summit and the EAS in Jakarta. On Friday, Yoon will depart for New Delhi and attend a couple of sessions of the G20 Summit on Saturday, including one on the climate emergency and the environment.

On the last day of his tour, Yoon will visit the Raj Ghat memorial and attend the third G20 session to discuss ways his country could contribute to building a free and prosperous future for all. The G20 comprises 19 countries, including South Korea and the US, and the EU.

As members apparently remain divided, the 43rd ASEAN Summit is unlikely to conclude with significant resolutions to existing geopolitical issues. Afterward, the rotating chair will pass from Indonesia to Laos. Last December, India assumed the G20 Presidency from Indonesia.