South Korea and NATO launched official negotiations on the 7th (local time) for a procurement agreement that would grant access to NATO's joint procurement market valued at 15 trillion won annually. Wi Seong-rak, Director of the National Security Office, announced at a press briefing in Ankara that the negotiation decision was made during a meeting between President Lee Jae-myung and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The agreement would provide Korean defense companies with an institutional foundation to participate in NATO joint procurement projects, where member countries collectively purchase weapon systems and military supplies. NATO joint procurement attracts global defense companies due to its large scale and stable demand generated by multiple nations procuring together rather than individually.
South Korea Secures Access to NATO Joint Procurement Market Through Agreement Negotiations
Wi stated that "with President Lee Jae-myung's meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte as the occasion, we have decided to start negotiations for concluding a procurement framework agreement between South Korea and NATO" and that "we have secured a foothold for advancing into the world's largest NATO defense market." The government expects defense cooperation between South Korea and NATO to expand significantly following the launch of these negotiations.
South Korea Expands Observer Participation in NATO Multinational Cooperation Programs
South Korea expanded its observer participation in NATO multinational cooperation programs that jointly develop equipment and materials. Wi explained that "in addition to the ammunition supply project where South Korea previously participated as an observer, South Korea will now also participate as an observer in defense industry and raw materials projects" and that "the scope of participation in multinational cooperation projects has further expanded." He emphasized that "participating in ammunition, defense industry, and raw materials projects will contribute to strengthening interoperability of weapon systems between South Korea and NATO while creating stable procurement conditions for Korean military supplies."
President Lee Addresses Standardization at NATO Defense Industry Forum in Ankara
Discussions on standardization, a core task of defense cooperation, began in earnest. President Lee attended the NATO Defense Industry Forum held in Ankara on the 7th and stated that "each country has different standards, different production methods, and different production practices" and that "unifying these standards seems to be an important issue." The government views that South Korea can broaden the foundation for follow-up cooperation such as joint development, joint production, and joint procurement by actively aligning with NATO's ongoing defense standardization efforts.
South Korea Joins NATO Space Program and Innovation Training Ground Initiatives
Cooperation extends beyond defense to future advanced industry sectors. Wi stated that "by participating in space-related projects, it will help expand our space launch opportunities by utilizing NATO's space infrastructure." He added that "NATO has accumulated experience in future warfare dominated by advanced technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence (AI) through the Ukraine war" and that "South Korea will also promote the participation of our companies in NATO innovation training grounds."
President Lee is scheduled to hold successive summit meetings with Norway, the Netherlands, Romania and others on the 8th, the second day of the NATO summit, to discuss ways to expand cooperation in advanced industries including defense, semiconductors, nuclear power, and renewable energy.
FAQ
What did South Korea and NATO decide on the 7th in Ankara?
South Korea and NATO launched official negotiations for a procurement framework agreement that would grant Korean defense companies access to NATO's joint procurement market valued at 15 trillion won annually. The decision was announced by Wi Seong-rak, Director of the National Security Office, following a meeting between President Lee Jae-myung and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
How did South Korea expand its participation in NATO multinational programs?
South Korea expanded its observer participation from the ammunition supply project to include defense industry and raw materials projects within NATO's multinational cooperation programs that jointly develop equipment and materials. This expansion strengthens interoperability of weapon systems between South Korea and NATO while creating stable procurement conditions for Korean military supplies.
What did President Lee say about standardization at the NATO Defense Industry Forum?
President Lee attended the NATO Defense Industry Forum in Ankara on the 7th and stated that each country has different standards, production methods, and production practices, emphasizing that unifying these standards is an important issue for future defense cooperation.
