Seoul: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday congratulated South Korea's newly elected President, Lee Jae-myung, affirming the robust alliance between the two nations and expressing a desire to enhance trilateral cooperation with Japan.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Rubio issued a statement following Lee's election as South Korea's 14th president. Lee, from the liberal Democratic Party, emerged victorious in an election necessitated by the ousting of former President Yoon Suk Yeol after a controversial martial law incident in December. Rubio highlighted the strong foundation of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, which is based on the Mutual Defense Treaty, shared values, and significant economic ties.
Rubio emphasized the continuous efforts to modernize the alliance to address current strategic and economic challenges. He also stressed the importance of deepening cooperation between the U.S., Japan, and South Korea to strengthen regional security, improve economic resilience, and uphold democratic values.
Earlier, Maj. Pete Nguyen, a Pentagon spokesperson, reiterated America's steadfast security commitment to South Korea. Speaking to Yonhap News Agency, Nguyen confirmed that the U.S. commitment to South Korea's defense and the alliance remains unwavering.