Korean President Lee calls for ‘defense industry partnership 2.0’ with NATO
NATO's long experience with Korea's advanced technology would strengthen security capabilities on both sides, Lee Jae Myung said in Turkey, while calling to jointly produce and operate defense systems.
Korean President Lee Jae Myung, far left, speaks at the NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum in Ankara, Turkey, on July 7.JOINT PRESS CORPS
President Lee Jae Myung called for expanded defense industry cooperation between Korea and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Turkey on Tuesday, stressing that combining NATO's experience with Korea's advanced technology would strengthen their security capabilities.
“If the stable production capabilities and proven technological prowess of the Republic of Korea, a reliable partner, are combined with NATO’s long-standing know-how, the security capabilities of both sides will be much stronger than they are now,” Lee said in his keynote address at the Defense Industry Forum held on the margins of the two-day NATO summit in Ankara.
“True solidarity and cooperation cannot exist without the conviction that supplies will not be cut off under any circumstances and the belief that core technologies will be safely protected,” Lee said. “Korea possesses the conditions for that trust.”
GoogleAdmanager-KJD
Lee then proposed to “elevate defense cooperation beyond the current model of simply trading weapon systems” and move toward a “Korea–NATO defense industry partnership 2.0,” in which the two sides can jointly research, produce and operate defense systems.
This concept was first raised during Lee’s summit with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during the Group of Seven, or G7, summit in France last month.
The session, with the theme of "Shared Values, Stronger Industrial Base," was attended by approximately 1,000 people, including heads of state and defense ministers from NATO member countries, as well as executives from the defense industry and the financial sectors.
Lee emphasized the long-standing relationship of trust between Korea and NATO, noting they “share memories of horrific wars and are partners who have together safeguarded the values of democracy, freedom and peace amidst a grave security environment.”
He said that building upon this trust, “Korea’s defense industry has grown based on the cooperation of NATO allies and has been able to achieve high technological compatibility.”
President Lee Jae Myung, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte shake hands during a meeting in Ankara, Turkey, on July 7, on the margins of the NATO summit.JOINT PRESS CORPS
“Just as member countries of the International Energy Agency jointly manage strategic oil reserves and respond collectively to energy crises, I hope we can develop similar mechanisms and wisdom in the field of defense industry cooperation,” Lee said, referring to the 32-member Paris-based intergovernmental organization.
Lee called for expanding joint research in advanced technologies, noting that the process of joint research and development “is the surest way to align technological standards and share the direction of innovation.” He called for more joint research programs, such as NATO’s ammunition and space cooperation programs, which Korea already partakes in.
Lee underscored that “the world will become safer only when nations with a strong will to defend themselves in a rapidly changing security environment unite more firmly.”
He then pledged Korea “will become the most trustworthy partner” and move forward with NATO toward a “safer world” as a partner in security cooperation dedicated to safeguarding global peace and prosperity.
Korean President Lee Jae Myung, second from left, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, center, and ministers from Japan, Australia and New Zealand pose for a photo during the meeting of NATO’s Indo-Pacific Four partners in Ankara, Turkey, on July 7.JOINT PRESS CORPS
Earlier Tuesday, Lee held his first in-person meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Rutte told Lee that he is grateful for his special efforts to develop relationship between Korea and NATO.
Later, Lee and Rutte held a meeting of NATO’s Indo-Pacific Four (IP4) partners. Since 2022, NATO has invited the IP4 nations — Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand — to strengthen cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region. The other three countries’ leaders didn’t attend the NATO summit and were represented by defense ministers in the meeting. Lee was joined by Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back.
Earlier Tuesday, Lee and first lady Kim Hea Kyung arrived in Turkey to begin a five-day trip for their first NATO summit and a state visit to Mongolia.
Lee’s attendance at the NATO summit after skipping last year is expected to help lay the groundwork for entering the NATO defense market, which accounts for 55 percent of global defense spending.
This comes as a Korean consortium led by Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries lost out to Germany's TKMS for a massive Canadian submarine procurement project.
