Saudi Defense Minister Visits South Korea – Strengthening Ties and Checking Out Military Gear

On Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with the Saudi Minister of National Defense, Prince Abdullah bin Bandar Al Saud, at the presidential office in Yongsan. The two leaders discussed deepening defense industry cooperation between South Korea and Saudi Arabia.

In a statement, Yoon highlighted the advanced capabilities of South Korea’s defense industry, which has evolved in response to tangible military threats from North Korea. He emphasized that South Korea is the ideal partner for Saudi Arabia, capable of collaboration across various sectors. Yoon noted that strengthening the defense cooperation between the two nations would bolster Saudi Arabia’s defense capabilities and play a crucial role in advancing bilateral relations.

Yoon welcomed Abdullah bin Bandar warmly, describing Saudi Arabia as a vital partner for South Korea’s economy and energy security. He commended the elevation of bilateral ties to a “future-oriented strategic partnership” through reciprocal visits with Crown Prince Mohammed in 2022 and 2023, saying that this upgrade has significantly expanded defense and military industry cooperation.

Abdullah bin Bandar conveyed warm greetings from Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed, expressing his deep gratitude for the strengthening of bilateral relations since the inauguration of the new South Korean administration. He remarked that defense cooperation between the two countries is already progressing at a high level. He praised the Republic of Korea’s Army equipment demonstration held earlier that day, which further reinforced his confidence in the excellence of South Korea’s defense capabilities.