South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will attend the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8, marking his first participation in the alliance’s leaders’ meeting since taking office. Although South Korea is not a NATO member, Seoul has steadily deepened cooperation with the alliance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and growing concerns over North Korea’s military ties with Moscow.
After the summit, Lee will travel to Mongolia for a three-day state visit focused on critical minerals, economic cooperation, and regional security.
Why It Matters
The visit underscores South Korea’s strategy of expanding defence exports and strengthening security partnerships beyond East Asia.
As NATO members significantly increase military spending following Russia’s war in Ukraine, Seoul sees growing opportunities for its defence industry, which has become one of the world’s fastest-growing arms exporters.
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The trip also reflects increasing coordination between NATO and Indo-Pacific democracies as security challenges in Europe and Asia become more interconnected.
Key Developments
- Lee will attend the NATO summit in Ankara from July 7-8.
- He is expected to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
- He will participate in an Indo-Pacific leaders’ meeting alongside Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
- Lee will speak at the NATO Defence Industry Forum.
- South Korea aims to expand defence industry cooperation with NATO members.
- After Turkey, Lee will visit Mongolia from July 9-11.
- He will hold talks with Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and oversee the signing of multiple agreements.
South Korea
Seoul is seeking to position itself as a major supplier of advanced military equipment while diversifying strategic partnerships.
NATO
The alliance is looking beyond Europe for reliable defence-industrial partners as members ramp up military spending and replenish weapons stockpiles.
Mongolia
Rich in critical minerals, Mongolia is becoming an increasingly important partner for countries seeking secure supply chains for batteries, semiconductors and clean-energy technologies.
North Korea and Russia
South Korean officials continue to cite North Korea’s military support for Russia’s war in Ukraine as evidence that European and Asian security issues are increasingly linked.
Future Outlook
The Ankara summit is expected to deepen practical cooperation between NATO and Indo-Pacific partners, particularly in defence production, emerging technologies and military interoperability.
Lee’s Mongolia visit could also strengthen cooperation on critical minerals, supporting South Korea’s efforts to secure supply chains while expanding diplomatic influence in Northeast Asia.
If NATO continues increasing defence spending over the coming years, South Korean defence manufacturers are likely to benefit from growing export opportunities across Europe.
Lee’s trip reflects South Korea’s evolving foreign policy under a more security-focused regional environment. Rather than seeking NATO membership, Seoul is pursuing closer functional cooperation in areas where it has competitive advantages, particularly defence manufacturing and advanced technology.
The Ukraine war has accelerated NATO’s engagement with Indo-Pacific partners because European and Asian security challenges are increasingly viewed as interconnected. North Korea’s reported military support for Russia has reinforced Seoul’s argument that instability in Europe has direct implications for East Asian security.
The Mongolia visit complements this strategy by focusing on economic security. As global competition intensifies over critical minerals needed for electric vehicles, semiconductors and defence technologies, securing stable access to resource-rich partners has become a strategic priority.
Together, the two visits demonstrate South Korea’s broader effort to strengthen both its security partnerships and economic resilience, while positioning itself as a more influential middle power in an increasingly fragmented global order.
With information from Reuters.
