Playing the Middle Game: South Korea’s Strategy in Great Power Rivalry

South Korea’s foreign policy faces an increasingly difficult balancing act between its security alliance with the United States and its deep economic ties with China. For decades, Seoul relied on U.S. military protection while maintaining strong trade relationships with Beijing. But escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing are shrinking South Korea’s maneuvering room. The deployment of U.S. missile defense systems and China’s economic retaliation have exposed the risks of leaning too far toward either side. At the same time, domestic political shifts - like President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment and the possible rise of a more China-friendly government - add to the uncertainty. Caught between great powers and internal divisions, South Korea now faces a pivotal challenge: how to protect its interests without becoming a pawn in their rivalry.

Playing the Middle Game South Korea's Strategy in Great Power Rivlary.pdf

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