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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral partnership. During the meeting, Lee stressed the need to enhance cooperation between South Korea and NATO, and proposed elevating defense ties to a 'Korea–NATO Defense Industry Partnership 2.0'.

Coverage Comparison

According to Yonhap News, Lee made a keynote speech at the NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum, where he emphasized that combining NATO's decades of experience with South Korea's advanced defense technology would boost the security capabilities of both sides. A separate Yonhap report detailed the bilateral meeting, noting that Lee is attending the summit at the invitation of the NATO chief and that the two leaders discussed ways to expand cooperation and solidify mutual trust.

Key Claims

  • Lee Jae Myung met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on July 7, 2026, on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, as reported by Yonhap News.
  • Lee proposed expanding joint research between South Korea and NATO on cutting-edge technologies, including ammunition and space cooperation, according to Yonhap News.
  • Lee proposed elevating bilateral defense cooperation to a 'Korea–NATO Defense Industry Partnership 2.0', as reported by Yonhap News.
  • Lee is attending the NATO summit at the invitation of the NATO chief, according to Yonhap News.
During his keynote speech, Lee said, "The security capabilities of both sides will be greatly strengthened when NATO's decades of know-how is combined with the reliable production capacity and proven technological prowess of the Republic of Korea." He also noted that the world is in an era of uncertainty marked by geopolitical conflict, and that the military application of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and drones has become a decisive factor for modern warfare.

"Deterrence now hinges not only on the ability to produce weapons rapidly and reliably, but also on the resilience of global supply chains," Lee said. "The front lines of national security are now the laboratories where advanced technologies are developed and the industrial sites where weapons are produced. In this new era, a nation's survival rests on the foundations of its defense industry."

At the start of the meeting with Rutte, Lee expressed pleasure at meeting him in person for the first time, while Rutte thanked Lee for his efforts to further strengthen ties between South Korea and NATO, as reported by Yonhap News.