South Korean president urges 'speedier' NATO cooperation

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday urged NATO members to accelerate defense industry cooperation, proposing a comprehensive upgrade to bilateral ties during the alliance's summit in Ankara that brings together leaders from the 32-member bloc.

Industrial partnership upgrade

In a keynote address delivered during the session titled "Shared Values, Stronger Industrial Base," Lee stressed the imperative to expand joint research into cutting-edge technologies, building upon established cooperation in ammunition and space programs. "The security capabilities of both sides will be greatly strengthened when NATO's decades of know-how is combined with the reliable production capacity and proven technological prowess of the Republic of Korea," he said, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Lee proposed elevating bilateral ties to a "Korea-NATO Defense Industry Partnership 2.0," a framework designed to move beyond traditional arms sales toward collaborative research, production and operation of defense systems. He noted that modern deterrence depends not merely on rapid manufacturing capabilities but also on the resilience of global supply chains, adding that "in this new era, a nation's survival rests on the foundations of its defense industry."

Strategic mechanisms

The South Korean leader suggested applying the International Energy Agency's joint management model for strategic petroleum reserves to the defense sector, calling for the creation of a similar cooperative mechanism that would pool resources and ensure security of supply during crises. "Deterrence now hinges not only on the ability to produce weapons rapidly and reliably, but also on the resilience of global supply chains," he stated during the forum.

Lee emphasized Seoul's commitment to the alliance, declaring that the Republic of Korea would remain NATO's "most trusted partner" in efforts to safeguard global peace. The Ankara gathering represents the second NATO summit hosted by Türkiye following the 2004 Istanbul summit, providing a platform for bilateral meetings between Ankara and allied countries on political, security and economic cooperation.