The European Intelligence Academy is pleased to unveil the latest installment in our Research Paper Series, with the publication of “South Korea’s Strategic Role in SEATO 2.0: Advancing Space Innovation and Global Market Integration in the Indo-Pacific”. The author, Mo Tasrif Khan, is a prior Reserve Officers Training Corps cadet in the United States Air Force, who is currently transitioning to active-duty service. Khan holds undergraduate degrees in Defense Cyber Operations and Space Operations from Gwinnett Technical College and American Military University and is completing graduate school in Cyberspace Operations at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The author argues that, in response to increasing global power competition in the Indo-Pacific, SEATO 2.0 must be established to counteract China and Russia’s military and economic might. He goes on to highlight South Korea’s pivotal role in such a project, specifically through its National Space Innovation System (NSIS) and Global Market Entry System (GMES). These systems provide South Korea with crucial advantages in intelligence sharing, cybersecurity, space security, and defense market expansion—pillar components of SEATO 2.0’s strategic objectives. It is the synergistic fusion between NSIS and GMES, Khan argues, that positions South Korea as a cornerstone in fortifying regional stability within the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. The paper can be accessed online here. [pdf]
