South Korea’s New Indo-Pacific Strategy: Where Does India Fit In?

Abstract

Korea and India have had a Special Strategic Partnership in place from 2015 and the India-Korea diplomatic relations have entered its 50th year, but still the full potential of the relationship has not been tapped into by both sides. Korea's New Southern Policy and India's Act East Policy did provide some momentum and some significant progress in the cultural, people-to-people links were seen, but when it came to strategic and hard security issues, this relationship fell short. Even in the economic sphere, the two sides signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in 2009, but still there are talks underway for updating the CEPA. But now with Korea devising its new Indo-Pacific strategy and India being one of the strong advocates of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific concept, there is scope that this relationship will now delve into strategic issues that are haunting the geo-political climate of the Indo-Pacific region. Finally it seems the time is opportune for the two countries to develop a credible strategic and security partnership. This article after tracing the trajectory of the India-Korea relations from 2015 onwards, analyses if now with Korea unveiling its Strategy for a Free, Peaceful and Prosperous Indo-Pacific, will India finally figure in its strategic calculus? If India will also perceive Korea as an important partner for furthering its ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region?