South Korea highlights Türkiye's strategic role, deepening defense ties

South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has articulated a clear vision for a stronger strategic partnership with Türkiye, highlighting Ankara's growing global influence and the concrete progress in bilateral cooperation, especially within the defense sector. The minister's comments underscore a mutual commitment to elevating the relationship beyond historical ties to a forward-looking alliance.

Defense industry cooperation as a cornerstone

Minister Cho specifically pointed to the joint Altay main battle tank project as a prime example of the "mutually beneficial cooperation" that is steadily strengthening both nations' international standing. "We hope this mutually beneficial cooperation will expand further in the coming period," Cho stated, noting it would contribute significantly to regional and global security. He praised Türkiye's "remarkable progress" in building its indigenous defense capacity, citing its record-breaking defense exports and the successful hosting of the IDEF fair as concrete indicators.

A relationship built on history and expanding economics

The foundation of the modern partnership is the "deep trust and friendship" stemming from Türkiye's military support during the Korean War, where it sent nearly 20,000 troops. Building on this legacy, economic ties have flourished under a free trade agreement, with bilateral trade reaching a record $10.4 billion in 2023. Both sides aim to expand collaboration into future-oriented sectors like nuclear energy, biotechnology, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence. Cho emphasized Türkiye's strategic value as a production hub and gateway for South Korean companies looking to diversify global supply chains and access broader markets.

Shared diplomatic outlook and regional perspectives

Minister Cho also aligned South Korea's views with Türkiye's on several key international issues. He expressed appreciation for Türkiye's mediation efforts in Gaza, welcomed the recent ceasefire, and supported the swift implementation of a peace plan. On Ukraine, he reiterated that sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. Furthermore, Cho outlined Seoul's pragmatic foreign policy, which seeks to enhance cooperation with both the United States on advanced technology and with China on an equal footing, avoiding a simple balancing act in favor of a holistic assessment of national interests. This nuanced approach finds resonance with Türkiye's own multi-vector diplomacy.

Cultural exchange and a vision for the future

Beyond politics and economics, Cho noted a rising mutual interest in culture, cuisine, and tourism, with visitor numbers increasing. Looking ahead to the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027, South Korea aims to deepen people-to-people ties through expanded youth exchanges and institutional cooperation. The overarching goal, as framed by Minister Cho, is to build a "sustainable relationship grounded in mutual respect and trust" that actively contributes to global stability.