France and South Korea have agreed to broaden cooperation in defence, advanced technology, trade and energy as the two countries seek to strengthen their strategic partnership in response to an increasingly uncertain global environment.
French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung reached the agreements during a summit at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Tuesday.
The meeting coincided with South Korea’s commemoration of 140 years of diplomatic relations with France and marked another step in efforts to expand ties beyond traditional diplomatic engagement.
The relationship was elevated to a global strategic partnership earlier this year, with both governments identifying defence, advanced technology, energy and other strategic sectors as priorities.
During the summit, France and South Korea signed an agreement designed to improve the protection and exchange of military information. The deal is expected to provide a stronger framework for cooperation in defence and the defence industry.
The countries also agreed to work towards a separate military logistics support agreement aimed at making cooperation between their armed forces more stable and effective.
Defence industries from both sides are expected to explore projects that combine French technological expertise with South Korea’s strong manufacturing capabilities.
Economic cooperation was another key area of discussion. President Lee announced an ambition to raise annual bilateral trade between the two countries to $20 billion by 2030.
Paris and Seoul also agreed to strengthen collaboration in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum technology. Joint research and development projects are expected to form part of the effort to promote innovation and encourage investment.
Private-sector cooperation is already developing in the AI sector. Samsung Electronics and French AI company Mistral AI have reached an agreement under which Samsung will become a strategic investor in the French company.
The two companies are also expected to cooperate on an AI model for Samsung, including technology aimed at protecting sensitive semiconductor information.
Energy cooperation is another emerging pillar of the relationship. France and South Korea plan to explore collaboration on next-generation nuclear reactors and the diversification of related supply chains.
The two countries are also working towards a high-level dialogue on civil nuclear energy and considering joint research involving nuclear power plants, including small modular reactors.
Beyond economic and technological issues, Macron and Lee discussed international security concerns, including developments on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East.
Lee said Seoul and Paris would continue efforts to help maintain freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while Macron reaffirmed France’s support for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
The agreements demonstrate the growing scope of the France-South Korea relationship, with cooperation now covering military affairs, AI, semiconductors, nuclear energy and trade.
For both governments, deeper ties could strengthen economic resilience, create new opportunities for businesses and provide greater strategic flexibility as global competition intensifies.
