[Asia Centre in the medias] Korea, France can present new middle power partnership amid geopolitical tensions • Arnaud Leveau, PhD

Korea & France can present new middle power partnership amid geopolitical tensions

Arnaud Leveau, PhD, president of Asia Centre, was interviewed by Oh Soo-young for Arirang News on January the 26th about Korea & France relations, to defend that Seoul and Paris must make their partnership instinctive and institutional to jointly counter global challenges.

“한-불, 지정학적 긴장 속 중견국 협력 새 모델 제시 가능… 협력은 제도화돼야”: 프랑스 아시아센터 회장

There are growing calls for middle powers to come together for joint action on matters of common interest and the head of a leading French think tank dedicated to issues of Asia is highlighting the need for such partnership between South Korea and France.

His remarks come as South Korea and France mark 140 years of diplomatic relations, at a time when both countries face mounting geopolitical challenges, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.

“In that sense, the France-Korea relationship can become a testing ground for a new kind of partnership between middle power democracies. One based on realism, sovereignty, and shared responsibility, not only on ideology and not on dependence.”

America’s demand for its allies to increase their own security, regional economic coercion and tensions over trade, minerals and emerging technologies, the prolonged war in Ukraine, and North Korea’s partnership with Russia are further changing and merging strategic calculations for East Asia and Europe.

“For France, it’s like we need more and more partner like Korea because Korea understands deterrence, credibility and long-term pressure because South Korea lives with it every day. So I will say that France and Korea share a very pragmatic view on security. Both countries know that peace requires strength but also self-control. So I will say strength without provocation and firmness without escalation.”

From military and industry to technology, space, and supply chains, Leveau believes potential for deeper partnership lies in both national and economic security, and new strategic domains where larger powers are competing for dominance.

“The first one would be maritime security and the protection of global commons, meaning that both countries, South Korea and France, depend on open sea lines, freedom of navigation, and stable maritime space. So we can think to go from a joint naval exercise to information sharing. France and Korea can do much more to protect the rules-based order at sea, not against anyone but to guarantee stability.”

France’s Foreign Ministry says around 30 bilateral dialogue channels already exist across diplomacy, defence, economy, and science. However, the professor says an instinctive trigger for cooperation is currently lacking.

“Both countries share democratic values, a long diplomatic history, and strong people-to-people ties.
But I would say that maybe strategically the relationship is still under institutionalized, there are a lot of cooperation, but there is no strategic reflex yet.”
“And what I mean by co-construction, maybe it’s to work for joint ownerships in terms of industry, technology, security normative projects, maybe for instance in AI regulations but also in the development of defence capabilities, cyber resilience, supply chains, and standards.”

Going forward, Leveau hopes to see tangible progress at the next leaders’ summit expected this year.

“A meaningful outcome of leaders meeting will be the elaboration of a shared strategy framework one that defines player priorities to identify concrete project and create continuity beyond political cycles So I would say we need more symbolism and more architecture.”

“Officials say Seoul and Paris are moving to deepen strategic cooperation, with high-level talks between foreign ministers and the possibility of reciprocal top-level visits between Presidents Lee Jae Myung and Emmanuel Macron. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.”

Korea & France can present new middle power partnership amid geopolitical tensions • Arnaud Leveau, PhD :