South Korea and Poland to upgrade ties as Tusk calls Seoul the most key ally after US
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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (left) and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung agreed on April 13 to upgrade ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
PHOTO: REUTERS
SEOUL – South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk agreed on April 13 to upgrade ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, with the leaders placing defence cooperation at the centre of the relationship.
In remarks made before talks between the leaders at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, Mr Lee said the countries would further expand defence industry cooperation under a US$44.2 billion (S$56.4 billion) framework pact signed in 2022.
“K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, FA-50 light-attack aircraft, and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers – bearing South Korea’s technology and pride – are now safeguarding Poland’s territory and its people across its vast lands,” he said.
He added that the partnership extended beyond arms sales to include joint production, technology transfer and training.
Mr Tusk described South Korea as Poland’s “most important ally after the United States, especially in the defence industry” and said he would personally oversee expanded defence 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-to-people exchanges.
South Korea has become one of Poland’s leading arms suppliers in recent years as Warsaw moves to rapidly modernise its military following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In 2022, South Korea and Poland signed a defence framework agreement for South Korean companies to supply Poland with arms, as well as jointly produce military equipment on Polish soil.
Since then, defence companies, including Hanwha Aerospace and Hyundai Rotem, have signed follow-up, multi-billion-dollar contracts to supply equipment such as tanks and missile launchers. REUTERS
