South Korea’s Lee Targets NATO Defense Market and Mongolian Minerals

In Ankara, Lee is scheduled to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and participate in an Indo-Pacific session alongside counterparts from Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. His agenda centers on the NATO Defence Industry Forum, where Seoul aims to leverage its status as a top-tier arms exporter to court members currently replenishing stockpiles depleted by the war in Ukraine. The mission underscores a shift in South Korean foreign policy, emphasizing functional security partnerships rather than formal alliance membership.

Following the summit, the President will travel to Ulaanbaatar from July 9-11 to meet with Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa. This leg of the trip prioritizes economic security, specifically access to critical minerals essential for semiconductors and clean-energy technologies. By diversifying supply chains while simultaneously expanding its footprint in the global defense market, Seoul is positioning itself as a pivotal middle power capable of bridging security and industrial interests across two continents.