The UAE and South Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on “strategic” cooperation in the defence sector in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
SIGNATORIES
South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and the UAE’s Tawazun Council, which is in charge of national arms procurement, signed the MoU.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was present along with his UAE counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
UAE Pledges to Invest $30 Billion in South Korea#UAE #SouthKorea #대한민국 #الإمارات_كوريا_الجنوبية @MohamedBinZayed@President_KR @Reuters@UAEEmbassyROK@mofa_kr@MoFAICUAE pic.twitter.com/BNJHk7y95f
— UAE Forsan (@UAE_Forsan) January 15, 2023
GUARANTEES
According to DAPA, the MoU allows both sides to “continue efforts for joint investment, research and technological development to further develop bilateral cooperation in the arms industry.”
It also “solidifies” the two countries’ Special Strategic Partnership and is “expected to contribute to enhancing substantive defence industry cooperation between the respective defence acquisition agencies.”
DAPA further added that the agreement will expand Seoul’s efforts to export air defence systems.
Sincere appreciation goes to the wonderful hospitality of @MohamedBinZayed. Very happy to have had a productive and in-depth discussion. 🇰🇷🇦🇪 Special Strategic Partnership will be further advanced to the highest level! https://t.co/QN5gRkCQg1
— 윤석열 Yoon Suk Yeol (@President_KR) January 15, 2023
OTHER OUTCOMES
During a summit meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, both leaders agreed to “further develop” their Special Strategic Partnership.
In particular, they agreed to strengthen cooperation in four key areas:
- conventional energy and clean energy,
- peaceful nuclear energy,
- economy and investment, and
- defence and defence technology;
They further agreed to deepen cooperation in other areas of mutual interest, such as space, emerging industries, digital transformation, smart infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, and culture.
UAE President, Korean President Witness Announcement, Exchanging of Several Agreements,MoUs #UAE #SouthKorea #대한민국 #AbuDhabi #Energy #Hydrogen #Space #الإمارات_كوريا_الجنوبية@MohamedBinZayed@President_KR@UAEEmbassyROK@mofa_kr@MoFAICUAE pic.twitter.com/vzHXvmwSaP
— UAE Forsan (@UAE_Forsan) January 16, 2023
Moreover, the UAE announced its decision to invest $30 billion in “strategic sectors” of South Korea. Although details of the plan are not publicly known yet, Yoon’s press secretary, Kim Eun-hye, said that it will be directed at nuclear power, defence, hydrogen and solar energy industries.
SOUTH KOREA’S SECURITY CONCERNS
The agreement comes after North Korea sent five drones into South Korea’s airspace, with one reaching as far as northern Seoul last month.
Following this, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called for strengthening the country’s air defences and including high-tech stealth drones.
To this end, both sides reaffirmed that Pyongyang’s “relentless pursuit of nuclear and missile development” posed a “serious threat to peace and stability” globally.
They condemned its “record number of ballistic missile launches” in the “strongest terms,” which they said violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions.
They reiterated the need for a “firm and united” international response to the North’s “continued provocations” and reaffirmed their “shared goal” of the North’s complete denuclearisation and the “importance of diplomatic efforts to induce North Korea to return to negotiations.”
Additionally, Yoon introduced the Audacious Initiative aims to achieve a “denuclearised, peaceful and prosperous Korean Peninsula.”