South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron, who met in Paris, decided to expand cooperation in areas ranging from defense and security to technology and energy. Following the summit, the two countries signed various agreements to strengthen bilateral cooperation in defense, the defense industry, the protection of military information and other areas.
At a joint news conference, Lee said they had agreed to make concrete progress in defense and security so they could respond together to the uncertainties facing the international order.
2030 trade target set at $20 billion
South Korea and France set a goal of increasing annual bilateral trade to $20 billion by 2030 by strengthening economic and industrial cooperation. Lee said he would maintain close communication with Macron so that companies could find more opportunities in the markets of both countries and operate in a more predictable environment.
The leaders agreed to extend cooperation in artificial intelligence, quantum technology and nuclear energy to industrial and market initiatives. Accordingly, they plan to conduct joint research and development projects in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum technologies; pursue joint work on next-generation nuclear reactors and civilian nuclear energy; and diversify supply chains.
Samsung Electronics had previously announced that it had partnered with French startup Mistral AI to develop its semiconductor operations.
Military information and logistics cooperation
The two countries reached a new understanding updating the agreement on the protection of classified military information that the leaders had approved at their summit in Seoul in April. The arrangement is expected to improve information sharing between South Korea and France.
Lee announced that they would work toward signing an agreement on reciprocal military logistics support at an early date to strengthen defense cooperation. The sides also plan to develop joint projects combining France's technological expertise with South Korea's manufacturing capacity.
France backs the Korean Peninsula
Macron said he welcomed the agreements that had been signed. The French president said 2026 would be an important period for France-South Korea relations because it marks the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Macron said the partnership between the two countries was based on democracy, human rights, the rule of law, respect for international law, and free and fair trade, adding that shared values and interests formed the foundation of the partnership. He said sovereignty and strategic autonomy must be preserved at a time when global balances are being reshaped.
Macron said joint work in defense, security, technology and energy would prevent the two countries from falling under the influence of any major power. He emphasized that South Korea could rely on France's continued support for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Strait of Hormuz and the Russia-Ukraine war
Lee and Macron also discussed the Strait of Hormuz and the Russia-Ukraine war under the heading of global security. The two leaders expressed a shared view that freedom of navigation must be maintained under peaceful conditions.
Macron said they would continue developing proposals for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He said that, if an agreement were reached, work would continue on the possibility of a multinational mission that would be entirely peaceful in nature.
