South Korean President Embarks on Ankara, Mongolia Tour; NATO Summit on Agenda

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will attend the NATO Summit in Ankara, Türkiye, on July 7-8 before travelling to Mongolia for a three-day state visit, as Seoul looks to expand defence cooperation and strengthen strategic partnerships.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac announced the itinerary on Friday, saying Lee will use the NATO gathering to deepen collaboration between South Korea’s defence industry and NATO member states.

During his visit to Ankara, Lee is scheduled to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and participate in a summit involving NATO’s Indo-Pacific partners—Japan, Australia and New Zealand. He will also attend the NATO Defence Industry Forum and deliver a speech at one of its sessions.

Wi said the summit comes at a time when NATO countries are ramping up defence spending and investing in domestic manufacturing amid growing geopolitical uncertainty. “Although South Korea is not a NATO member, it is important to strengthen cooperation with the alliance based on NATO standards to support exports of Korean defence equipment,” he said.

The presidential office is also working to arrange bilateral meetings with several world leaders on the sidelines of the summit, though officials did not disclose further details. After concluding his engagements in Türkiye, Lee will arrive in Ulaanbaatar on July 9 for a state visit at the invitation of Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa.

The two leaders are expected to hold summit talks, issue a joint statement and oversee the signing of multiple memorandums of understanding aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation.

According to Wi, Mongolia is an important partner for South Korea due to its vast reserves of critical minerals and its potential role in supporting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula through its close ties with North Korea.

The twin visits highlight the Lee administration’s efforts to broaden South Korea’s global diplomatic engagement while advancing defence, economic and strategic cooperation with partners in Europe and Asia.