Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Minister of National Defense to make an official visit to UAE and India

- Strengthening the impetus for defense exchange cooperation, which had been postponed due to the emergence of COVID-19 -

□ Minister of National Defense Suh Wook plans to make an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India from March 21 to March 28. This visit aims to invigorate defense exchange cooperation by resuming high-level national defense diplomacy activities that had been postponed due to COVID-19.

□ First, Suh will visit the UAE from March 21 to March 24 at the invitation of the UAE’s minister of defense affairs Mohammad Ahmed Al Bowardi, in order to discuss ways to develop military exchange and national defense cooperation between the two countries at the 「regular high-level talks between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the UAE」, held every year. Suh will also visit the Akh unit, which is marking the 10th anniversary of its deployment, to encourage the soldiers deployed overseas.

   ◦ Significantly, Suh will have an in-depth discussion on ways to develop national defense and defense industry cooperation between the two countries at a meeting with the main military officials from the UAE, in addition to the meeting with the UAE’s minister of defense affairs.

□ Following the visit to the UAE, Suh will visit India at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh from March 25 to March 27, in order to discuss various issues on national defense and defense industry cooperation between the two countries by holding defense ministers’ talks between the ROK and India.
□ It is expected that Minister Suh’s visit will serve as momentum to further deepen the national defense and defense industry cooperation with the UAE and India, key allies in Middle East and Western South Asia which have a 「special strategic partnership」 with the ROK.