SEOUL – In a significant move to deepen their military and defense industry relations, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to enhance their bilateral cooperation, the defense ministry of Seoul announced on Friday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this agreement was reached during a meeting between South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and his UAE counterpart, Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Mazrouei, in the UAE earlier that day.
The discussions focused on reinforcing the ties between the two nations as "special strategic partners," a relationship that has seen substantial defense cooperation over the past 15 years. Both defense chiefs explored the achievements of this partnership and deliberated on future-oriented cooperation strategies. Shin expressed optimism that his visit would pave the way for new opportunities in the arms industry between the two countries.
Following his visit to the UAE, Shin is scheduled to continue his diplomatic and defense engagement tour to Saudi Arabia. His itinerary includes a three-day stay starting Saturday, during which he will participate in the World Defense Show in Riyadh. The trip aims to further expand South Korea's defense cooperation beyond the UAE, showcasing Seoul's commitment to fostering strong ties within the region. Shin's tour will conclude with a visit to Qatar, where he is set to hold discussions with Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, Qatar's defense minister and deputy prime minister, over a two-day period.
This series of high-level meetings underscores South Korea's strategic approach to strengthening its defense and security relationships with key partners in the Middle East, highlighting a broadening scope of cooperation in the defense and arms sectors.