South Korea and Italy Agree to Expand Defense-Industrial Cooperation

South Korea and Italy have agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in the defense industry following a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The talks were held in Seoul and marked the first visit by an Italian prime minister to South Korea in nearly two decades, underscoring renewed political and industrial engagement between the two countries.

According to official statements, defense industry cooperation will focus on leveraging complementary industrial capabilities, particularly in areas linked to advanced technologies. The two sides highlighted opportunities connected to aerospace systems, dual-use technologies, and innovation-driven defense manufacturing, although no specific programs or procurement initiatives were announced.

The discussions also covered cooperation in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and resilient supply chains for critical materials, all of which have growing relevance for modern defense production. Officials indicated that closer coordination in these sectors is intended to support long-term industrial competitiveness and strategic autonomy.

The agreement fits into South Korea’s broader effort to expand defense-industrial partnerships beyond its traditional markets, while Italy continues to position itself as a European partner for high-technology and defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Both governments emphasized that further working-level discussions will be required to translate political commitments into concrete industrial outcomes.