South Korea and Poland to upgrade ties as Tusk calls Seoul key ally after US
SEOUL 鈥 South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk agreed on Monday to upgrade ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, with the leaders placing defense cooperation at the center of the relationship.
In remarks made before talks between the leaders at the presidential Blue House, Mr. Lee said the countries would further expand defense industry cooperation under a $44.2-billion framework pact signed in 2022.
鈥淜2 tanks, K9 self鈥憄ropelled howitzers, FA鈥50 light-attack aircraft, and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers 鈥 bearing South Korea鈥檚 technology and pride 鈥 are now safeguarding Poland鈥檚 territory and its people across its vast lands,鈥 Mr. Lee said.
The South Korean leader said that the partnership extended beyond arms sales to include joint production, technology transfers and training.
Mr. Tusk described South Korea as Poland鈥檚 鈥渕ost important ally after the United States, especially in the defense industry鈥 and said he would personally oversee expanded defense cooperation between the countries.
He said the upgraded partnership meant the two countries would take on a shared responsibility and should play a role in contributing to global peace and international stability.
The two leaders also affirmed expanded cooperation across a wide range of fields, including energy supply chains, infrastructure, science and technology, advanced industries, space, and people鈥憈o鈥憄eople exchanges.
South Korea has become one of Poland鈥檚 leading arms suppliers in recent years as Warsaw moves to rapidly modernize its military following Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine.
In 2022, South Korea and Poland signed a defense framework agreement for South Korean companies to supply Poland with arms 鈥as well as jointly produce military equipment on Polish soil.
Since then, defense companies including Hanwha Aerospace and Hyundai Rotem have signed follow-up, multibillion-dollar contracts to supply equipment such as tanks and missile launchers. 鈥 Reuters
