UAE and South Korea Ink $35 Billion Defense Cooperation Deal

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the United Arab Emirates and South Korea have signed a defense industry cooperation agreement valued at over $35 billion, as part of a larger package of joint projects worth more than $65 billion. This extensive collaboration will allocate $35 billion to the defense sector, encompassing integrated air defense, aircraft, and naval vessels. An additional $30 billion will be invested in other strategic investment areas.

Kang Hoon Sik, a special envoy for the South Korean presidency, highlighted that this agreement signifies a shift from a mere buyer-seller relationship to a comprehensive partnership. This partnership covers the entire defense industry chain, from design and training to maintenance and repair.

These developments occurred as Seoul’s envoy presented a written letter from South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. The letter emphasized Seoul’s interest in expanding cooperation in fields such as artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, and defense industries.