South Korea and Romania Seek to Broaden Partnership Beyond Defense Industry
ANKARA, Turkey – South Korea and Romania are looking to expand their bilateral relationship beyond defense cooperation, with both governments identifying nuclear energy and industrial collaboration as priorities during a meeting between President Lee Jae Myung and Romanian President Nicusor Dan on the sidelines of the NATO Summit.
Lee described Romania as an important partner for Seoul, pointing to growing cooperation in trade and defense manufacturing. According to the South Korean presidential office, existing collaboration includes joint development, local production initiatives, and efforts to pursue opportunities in third country markets.
The South Korean president said Seoul intends to build on those defense links by extending cooperation into additional sectors, including civil nuclear energy. He also invited Dan to visit South Korea for further discussions on bilateral cooperation.
Dan highlighted ongoing Romanian projects involving South Korean industry, including Hanwha's defense activities in the country and Korean participation in Romania's nuclear power plant refurbishment programs. He said the projects create a foundation for broader economic cooperation and invited Lee to visit Romania.
The meeting comes as South Korea continues to strengthen defense industrial ties with NATO members and partner nations. Earlier during the NATO Summit, Lee proposed expanding cooperation between South Korea and NATO from conventional arms exports toward joint research, development, production, and operation of advanced defense systems.
Romania has become an increasingly important market for South Korea's defense industry. In 2024, Bucharest selected Hanwha Aerospace's K9 self-propelled howitzer system, marking the country's first major defense procurement from South Korea and establishing a framework for industrial cooperation between the two nations.
