Blue-Water Navy Program as a part of South Korea’s Hedging Strategy

Year 2017, , 65 - 97, 27.04.2017

Emine Akçadağ Alagöz

https://doi.org/10.17752/guvenlikstrtj.309401

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Competing interests of regional countries and the US-China competition in the Asia-Pacific have led a regional security dilemma and debates over power transition between these two strongest powers. This uncertainty about the future landscape of the region pushed South Korea to pursue hedging strategy, using the combination of cooperative and competitive strategic instruments. Considering the security architecture dominated by sea in Asia-Pacific, this study aims to assess South Korea’s blue-water navy program within the framework of its hedging strategy. It will be argued that a more powerful and capable navy will contribute to indirect balancing of China, main trading partner of South Korea and a key actor in dealing with North Korea and also reduce military overdependence of South Korea on the US, its main ally. Such an analysis will also allow reconsidering the roles of carriers in today’s international security context.

Keywords

Aircraft carrier, Asia-Pacific, Blue-water navy, Hedging, South Korea

Güney Kore’nin “Hedging” Stratejisinin Bir Parçası Olarak Açık Deniz Donanması Programı (İngilizce Makale)

Abstract

Asya-Pasifik’teki Çin-ABD rekabeti ve bölge ülkelerinin kesişen çıkarları, bölgesel güvenlik ikilemini ve iki büyük güç arasında güç geçişi tartışmalarını beraberinde getirmiştir. Bölgenin gelecekteki durumu hakkındaki bu belirsizlik, Güney Kore’yi iş birlikçi ve rekabetçi dış politika araçlarının bir arada kullanılmasını öngören “hedging” stratejisini izlemeye itmiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Asya-Pasifik’in deniz gücünün ciddi ehemmiyet arz ettiği bir bölge olduğundan hareketle, Güney Kore’nin açık deniz donanması programını “hedging” stratejisi çerçevesinde ele almaktır. Daha güçlü ve yetenekli bir donanma gücünün, hem Güney Kore’nin bir numaralı ticaret ortağı ve Kuzey Kore sorununun çözümünde temel aktör olan Çin’in tehdit edilmeden dolaylı olarak dengelenmesine, hem de Güney Kore’nin en önemli müttefiki olan ABD’ye askerî alandaki aşırı bağımlılığının azaltılmasına katkıda bulunacağı ifade edilecektir. Ayrıca bu analiz, günümüz uluslararası güvenlik ortamında uçak gemilerinin rolünün yeniden değerlendirilmesine de olanak sağlayacaktır.

Keywords

Uçak gemisi, Asya-Pasifik, Açık deniz donanması, Hedging, Güney Kore

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