미 국방 "인도 태평양서 다자화할수록 좋아... 나토 훌륭한 기준"<br /><br />The U.S. defense chief is emphasizing the need for a multilateral alliance resembling NATO in the Indo-Pacific region.<br />This follows U.S. calls for South Korea to join the Quad Plus initiative, a collective structure in the region that is similar to NATO.<br />Kim Ji-yeon reports.<br />U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has brought up the need to build a collective security alliance in the Indo-Pacific region,... referring to North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, as a good example.<br />Speaking at a seminar organized by U.S. think tank RAND Corporation... Esper said on Wednesday that the U.S. should pursue multilateral cooperation rather than one-on-one alliances... to deter conflict with China or Russia.<br />This follows similar remarks by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun late last month... who called for South Korea to take part in the U.S.'s so-called Quad Plus initiative, involving Australia, Japan and India... a NATO-like collective structure in the Indo-Pacific.<br />President Donald Trump has repeatedly brought up NATO funding... and diplomatic circles have raised concerns he could withdraw from the organization upon re-election.<br />But Esper said the U.S. will continue to push and expand Quad Plus.<br />He said one of the biggest advantages the U.S. has that China and Russia don't is that it has a robust network of alliances and partnerships in the region... and that this is particularly vital in case a conflict arises.<br />Esper added that when China has to think about a potential conflict with the U.S., it can't just think about the U.S., it has to think about other countries too including Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore and many more.<br />Pundits have speculated countries in the region like South Korea may have to choose sides... picking either the U.S. or China.<br />Seoul's Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun had said late last month that while South Korea is a key U.S. ally in terms of security and diplomacy... its close economic ties with China may also be vital.<br />Kim Ji-yeon, Arirang News.<br />
