South Korea and France Strengthen Defense and Economic Ties During State Visit

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron signed multiple agreements on Tuesday to strengthen bilateral cooperation in national defense, the defense industry, and military information protection. The agreements were announced during a joint press event at the Elysee Palace as part of a state visit marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations. The leaders agreed to upgrade a military secret information protection pact and seek an early agreement on mutual military logistics support. In the defense sector, they agreed to pursue projects combining French technological expertise with South Korean manufacturing prowess, specifically mentioning cooperation with firms such as Airbus.

On the economic and technological front, the two countries aim to increase annual bilateral trade to 20 billion US dollars by 2030. They agreed to collaborate on artificial intelligence, quantum technology, semiconductors, and nuclear energy, including the development of next generation nuclear reactors and the diversification of supply chains. President Lee also held a business roundtable focusing on joint investments in mobility, energy, and beauty, including potential partnerships between Samsung Electronics, Naver, and France's Mistral AI.

Regarding international security, the leaders discussed the restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. While center leaning reports describe this as a general agreement to work together for international peace, a center leaning report from Al-Monitor provides more specific context. It notes that South Korea's presidential office clarified that talks concerned contribution options rather than troop deployment, following warnings from Iran that military participation would be viewed as support for U.S. aggression. The report also mentions that a South Korean inspection team visited the United Arab Emirates to assess security conditions.

During the visit, President Macron conferred the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France's highest state decoration, upon President Lee in recognition of his contributions to bilateral friendship. The visit included a state dinner attended by South Korean business leaders and a visit to the Arc de Triomphe.