South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will participate in the South Korea NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, on July 7–8 before traveling to Mongolia for a three-day state visit. The trip is aimed at expanding defence cooperation, strengthening diplomatic ties, and enhancing regional partnerships.
According to South Korea’s National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, President Lee will use the summit to promote cooperation between South Korea’s defence industry and NATO member states. The visit reflects Seoul’s strategy of expanding security and industrial partnerships amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.
During the South Korea NATO summit, President Lee is scheduled to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. He will also join a meeting with leaders from Indo-Pacific partner countries, including Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, to discuss regional security and strategic cooperation.
Lee will participate in the NATO Defence Industry Forum and deliver a speech highlighting South Korea’s defence manufacturing capabilities. South Korean officials believe stronger engagement with NATO standards could help increase exports of defence equipment and deepen industrial collaboration with alliance members.
Officials said the presidential office is also arranging additional bilateral meetings with world leaders during the summit to explore defence and security partnerships. The initiative comes as many NATO countries continue increasing defence spending and investing in domestic military production.
Following the Ankara visit, President Lee will travel to Ulaanbaatar on July 9 at the invitation of Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa. The two leaders are expected to hold formal talks, issue a joint statement, and sign several memorandums of understanding covering multiple areas of cooperation.
The South Korea NATO summit and subsequent Mongolia visit underline Seoul’s broader foreign policy goals of strengthening global partnerships. South Korea also considers Mongolia an important partner because of its critical mineral resources and its potential role in supporting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
