South Korea's Defence Minister to visit Saudi Arabia for arms trade show, ministerial talks
Seoul, Feb 5
South Korea's Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back will visit Saudi Arabia this week to attend a major defence exhibition and hold meetings with his counterparts from Riyadh, the ministry said on Thursday, as South Korea seeks to boost arms exports.
As part of his five-day trip that begins Friday, Ahn will attend the biennial World Defence Show in Riyadh, where some 40 South Korean defence firms will showcase their arms products, according to the ministry.
He will also hold talks with Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud and Minister of the National Guard Abdullah bin Bandar Al Saud, it added.
Ahn is expected to discuss ways to deepen bilateral arms cooperation and promote South Korean arms products as Saudi Arabia seeks to foster its own defence industry and modernise the military, reports Yonhap news agency.
He will be accompanied by Gen. Son Sug-rag, Air Force chief of staff, who will also attend the trade show and hold talks with his Saudi Arabian and British counterparts on the margins of the event.
Ahn's upcoming trip comes five months after he visited the Middle Eastern country in September to discuss bilateral defence and arms industry cooperation.
South Korea seeks to become the world's fourth-largest arms exporter by 2030 to account for 6 per cent of the global market.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The global arms trade is so complex. While it's good for South Korea's economy, one always hopes these weapons are used responsibly. Saudi Arabia's military modernization is a huge market, but it comes with geopolitical strings attached.
South Korea aiming for 4th largest arms exporter by 2030 is ambitious! 🚀 Their K9 howitzers and FA-50 jets are quite popular. Hope our DRDO and private companies like L&T, Tata can also capture a bigger share of the market. Atmanirbhar Bharat needs this push.
It's a bit concerning to see such a focus on arms exports. The world needs cooperation on peace and development, not more weapons. I respect South Korea's economic goals, but wish the innovation would go more towards green tech and healthcare.
Smart strategy. The Middle East is a goldmine for defence contracts. South Korea is building strong ties there. India is also making inroads with Brahmos and other systems. Healthy competition is good, it drives innovation and better pricing for buyers.
The article mentions Saudi wants to foster its own defence industry. That's the key. Countries don't just want to buy forever, they want ToT (Transfer of Technology). South Korea might be more flexible than US or Russia on that front. A lesson for our export policy.
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