On September 30, TriForum successfully hosted its Inaugural 2024 Symposium at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C. Under the theme "The Path Forward: Freedom, Innovation, and U.S.-Japan-Korea Alliance", the event marked a significant milestone in establishing a robust public-private cooperation network among the three nations.

The symposium brought together prominent figures from the U.S. foreign policy and national security sectors, including Amb. Robert O’Brien, former White House National Security Advisor; Hon. Mike Gallagher, former Chairman of the House Select Committee on the CCP; Allison Hooker, former White House NSC Senior Director for Asian Affairs; and Victor Cha, CSIS Korea Chair. The distinguished guests shared insights on TriForum's vision and engaged in deep discussions regarding the future of trilateral strategic cooperation. In his keynote address, Mike Gallagher emphasized the need to leverage the capabilities of South Korea and Japan to accelerate U.S. military modernization. Addressing cross-strait tensions and potential conflict over Taiwan, he stressed that "there must be no ambiguity regarding the fighting will and capabilities of our allies."

During the subsequent roundtable discussion, Robert O’Brien strongly criticized arguments for recognizing North Korea as a nuclear state, labeling it "a highly dangerous proposition that could trigger a global nuclear domino effect," while reaffirming that "the ultimate goal remains denuclearization." Regarding increased defense burden-sharing by allies, O’Brien viewed it positively as "evidence that the alliance is working in practice." Against the backdrop of rapidly blurring boundaries between global security and advanced technology, panelists offered vital insights into the strategic challenges and adaptive paths for both governments and businesses within the shifting global order.

Through this landmark event, TriForum shed light on the critical security and economic agendas demanding a coordinated trilateral response, including the tightening alignment of North Korea, China, and Russia, the restructuring of global supply chains, and the fierce competition for tech supremacy. Participants explored actionable cooperation frameworks centered on future-defining industries and economic security—such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and supply chain resilience—thereby conceptualizing a private-sector-led strategic model that bridges national security with industrial innovation.

TriForum seeks to expand the momentum generated by the Camp David Summit beyond inter-governmental cooperation, extending it into the realms of industry, technology, and private-sector networks. Moving forward as a premier public-private platform connecting Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo, TriForum is dedicated to building a sustainable ecosystem that bridges policy, industry, and academia, serving as a vital catalyst to spearhead future economic security cooperation in this era of global strategic competition.