Presidential chief of staff’s UAE visit signals push to bolster Middle East defense ties

Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, named Korea’s special envoy for strategic economic cooperation last month, is scheduled to depart for Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday afternoon for a high-level mission aimed at strengthening Seoul’s economic and defense presence in the region. According to an official at the presidential office, Kang is scheduled to visit key partner countries in the Middle East during this trip. "(During his visit) Kang plans to discuss building a comprehensive model for strategic economic cooperation encompassing artificial intelligence (AI), defense, advanced manufacturing, culture, food and health care," the official said. The UAE is one of Korea’s most significant defense export destinations, and Kang is expected to meet senior officials during the visit. He is also likely to deliver a personal letter from President Lee Jae Myung, while exploring opportunities for expanded purchases of Korean defense systems. Overall, his mission is widely seen as a central component of Seoul’s broader drive to strengthen its defense industry and accelerWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times