South Korea and Italy have decisively upgraded their bilateral relations to a deeper strategic partnership. This significant advancement occurred during a summit in Seoul between the two nations’ leaders. They specifically agreed to expand cooperation in high-tech sectors and critical supply chains. The meeting marked the first visit by an Italian Prime Minister in nearly two decades.
President Lee Jae Myung and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held detailed talks at Cheong Wa Dae. Consequently, they outlined four key pillars for advancing their countries’ future ties. These pillars encompass economic collaboration, advanced technology, cultural exchange, and global peace. Both leaders emphasized the timely nature of reinforcing this strategic partnership amid global uncertainties.
Meloni frankly called her trip long overdue and meant to fill a persistent gap. She clearly noted that previous engagement did not match South Korea’s importance to Italy. Moreover, she highlighted the shared values of both nations as mature technological democracies. Therefore, this alliance provides extraordinary value in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
The summit produced a substantial joint statement with several concrete agreements. Firstly, the countries will deepen industrial cooperation in artificial intelligence and aerospace. Secondly, they plan stronger collaboration on semiconductors and critical raw materials. Accordingly, their semiconductor industry associations signed a new cooperation memorandum.
This memorandum actively promotes business cooperation and vital information sharing. Furthermore, it aims to substantially strengthen fragile semiconductor supply chains. Both leaders notably concurred on developing resilient critical mineral supply chains. They will also work through multilateral frameworks like the Minerals Security Partnership.
On defense and security, the discussions covered considerable common ground. The two nations will pursue complementary cooperation in the defense industry. Additionally, they reaffirmed a shared commitment to Korean Peninsula denuclearization. They also pledged to closely coordinate for Indo-Pacific peace and stability.
President Lee firmly underscored the future-oriented nature of the new agreements. He stated that economic cooperation will now match both countries’ economic scale. He also called science and technology cooperation crucial for the nation’s future. Therefore, expanding into advanced industries like AI remains an absolute priority.
Prime Minister Meloni explicitly linked European and Indo-Pacific security together. She reiterated an invitation for President Lee to make a state visit to Italy. Lee expressed his gratitude and anticipation for continuing discussions soon. Consequently, both sides will craft a new bilateral action plan for 2026-2030.
The summit sets a clear trajectory for significantly enhanced collaboration. This strengthened strategic partnership directly addresses technological and supply chain challenges. It also firmly aligns two major economies on shared security concerns. Ultimately, the meeting signifies a major step in a vital and evolving strategic partnership.
