Merz in Asia: Germany and South Korea plan cooperation on armaments and AI

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also agreed on closer economic and political cooperation with the third country on his Asian trip. “We need more than ever a strong network of partners who share important interests and common values,” said Merz after a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Seoul on Thursday.

"This applies in terms of security policy, this applies economically and this applies geopolitically. Today we are therefore raising our relations to the level of a deeper strategic partnership."

The fields of cooperation are named in a joint statement, ranging from artificial intelligence to the defense sector. President Lee spoke out in favor of arms cooperation between the two countries. “Korean defense companies are very interested in long-term partnerships with Germany, for example in joint ventures and joint developments,” he said.

Germany and South Korea also wanted to agree on a confidentiality agreement for classified military information. “We are expanding cooperation in cars, batteries and semiconductors, and strengthening research and innovation in AI, quantum and biotechnology and space travel,” he added.

Merz had already advocated for Europe and Asia to move closer together at his stations in Singapore and Japan. In Seoul, he emphasized that this was not only necessary because of shared interests in multilateral and rules-based trade. "Korea's security touches Europe's security, and Europe's security also touches Korea's security," he said.

North Korean soldiers fought alongside Russia in Donbass against Ukraine. In return, Moscow supplies North Korea with weapons. He thanked the South Korean president for his country's continued support for Ukraine. There had recently been tensions between Kiev and Seoul because the Ukrainian leadership announced the transfer of captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea.

Merz continues his visit to South Korea on Friday with a detour to the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. Meanwhile, in Beijing on Thursday, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier appealed to the Chinese government to reconsider its stance towards Russia in the Ukraine war and in international trade policy. China is considered Russia's main supporter. Steinmeier will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.