Exploring a European Role in the Search for Peace on the Korean Peninsula – Niklas Swanström participated in a webinar organized by the Universal Peace Federation
April 23, 2024: Niklas Swanström, ISDP’s Executive Director, participated in a webinar on “Exploring a European Role in the Search for Peace on the Korean Peninsula” organized by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF).
This thought-provoking event considered the effectiveness of a European initiative in the search for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. In the aftermath of the Hanoi Summit negotiations in 2019, the DPRK leadership expressed a loss of trust in exclusive negotiations with the United States, citing the potential changes in policy with each electoral cycle. They aspire to a durable agreement akin to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal with Iran, which continued despite the US Government’s withdrawal. As we contemplate the potential European role in Korean Peninsula peace efforts, we must address critical questions. Who could take the lead? Do European leaders possess the capacity to invest in such an initiative amid global conflicts, including the Russia – Ukraine war within Europe and the Israel and Iranian proxies conflict in the Middle East?