Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo has been carrying out national defense diplomacy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He left for the UAE to attend the 2019 International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) that will take place in Abu Dhabi. 

Minister Jeong held talks on Saturday with his UAE counterpart, Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, to discuss ways to strengthen military ties and defense industry cooperation.

“I expect that Minister Jeong’s first visit to the UAE will pave the way to spurring bilateral cooperation in areas such as national defense and the defense industry,” Minister of State for Defense Al Bowardi commented, expressing his deep gratitude for Minister Jeong’s acceptance of his invitation to the IDEX. 

“I believe that our two countries have maintained close cooperation in the area of national defense and the defense industry based on trust at the top leadership level and a robust system of cooperation. I hope this cooperation will continue to develop into reciprocal and forward-looking relations,” Minister Jeong replied, expressing his gratitude for Minister Al Bowardi’s invitation.

Minister Jeong explained the Republic of Korean government’s efforts to pursue the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and achieve a permanent peace on the peninsula, and called for the UAE’s support and cooperation. The UAE is the only country in the Middle East area that is a key ally with a special strategic partnership with Republic of Korea.

Earlier, Minister Jeong attended the International Defense Conference (IDC), which is an additional event of the IDEX, as one of the guests of honor, and had an extensive discussion with attendees on the theme of the conference: the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Security.

On February 15th, Minister Jeong visited both the Cheonghae unit, to mark the 10th anniversary of its deployment, and the Ahk unit, to encourage the soldiers in each unit. The Cheonghae unit is currently anchored at Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi to take part in the IDEX. On his visit to the units, Minister Jeong was accompanied by key military officials from the UAE, including Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Matar Salim Ali Al Dhaheri.

“The Cheonghae unit has served as a ‘guardian in the Gulf of Ade’ and an ‘advance guard of military diplomacy.’ The Cheonghae unit will be there wherever Korean people are. As long as you are here, the Somali coast will always be safe and peaceful,” Minister Jeong said in his statement at a shipboard reception held in the Cheonghae unit.

Minister Jeong also visited the Ahk unit to praise the hard work of the soldiers who play a considerable role in the enhancement of bilateral ties and defense cooperation between Republic of Korea and the UAE.