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President Lee Proposes South Korea-NATO Defence Partnership 2.0

7/8/2026

Summary

Story summary

President Lee Jae Myung proposed a “South Korea-NATO defence industry partnership 2.0” to add research, production and operation of weapons systems.
He announced the proposal at NATO’s Defence Industry Forum in Ankara, Turkey on July 7, 2026.
Lee said South Korea’s stable production capacity and verified technologies could combine with NATO’s long-standing know-how.
Lee called South Korea a reliable partner that can boost defence capabilities and expand cooperation on cutting-edge weapons technology.

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Story summary

President Lee Jae Myung proposed a “South Korea-NATO defence industry partnership 2.0” to add research, production and operation of weapons systems.
He announced the proposal at NATO’s Defence Industry Forum in Ankara, Turkey on July 7, 2026.
Lee said South Korea’s stable production capacity and verified technologies could combine with NATO’s long-standing know-how.
Lee called South Korea a reliable partner that can boost defence capabilities and expand cooperation on cutting-edge weapons technology.