South Korea, Poland Agree to Keep Boosting Defense Ties

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk agreed to expand their defense cooperation during talks in Seoul, as the war in Ukraine continues into its fifth year and the US shifts its defense priorities to the Middle East.Author of the article:You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.(Bloomberg) — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk agreed to expand their defense cooperation during talks in Seoul, as the war in Ukraine continues into its fifth year and the US shifts its defense priorities to the Middle East. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.“I underscored the need for steady implementation of the framework agreement already concluded between our two countries, which is essential for deepening and advancing our defense industry cooperation,” Lee said after a meeting with Tusk on Monday.Poland signed a $6.5 billion deal to purchase K2 tanks from South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem Company Ltd. last year in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization member’s latest move to shore up its military capability. Poland has been ramping up its military following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and now allocates nearly 5% of its economic output on defense, one of the highest levels among NATO members. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.The visit took place as President Donald Trump has been stepping up criticism of NATO and other allies such as South Korea for not helping the US re-open the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has threatened to blockade the key waterway after talks with Iran collapsed over the weekend. South Korea and Poland agreed on the importance of stabilizing global supply chains in response to the crisis triggered by the conflict in Iran and agreed to continue necessary cooperation, Lee said. He did not elaborate in what areas they might work together. The two leaders also agreed to expand partnership in areas including energy supply chains, infrastructure and science and technology. “Today’s summit will serve as an important milestone in taking bilateral relations to the next level,” Lee said. Tusk’s trip marks the first bilateral visit by a Polish premier to the Asian nation in 27 years, according to Lee’s office. Tusk is set to depart for Tokyo on Monday for a three-day visit that will include a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4© 2026 Financial Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited.This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.You can manage saved articles in your account.and save up to 100 articles!You can manage your saved articles in your account and clicking the X located at the bottom right of the article.