Overview
- A joint declaration signed in Seoul Thursday elevated bilateral relations to a 'deepened strategic partnership' and committed both governments to closer cooperation on politics, security and the economy.
- The two leaders pledged stepped-up security and defence cooperation, including strengthened information sharing between their militaries and agencies to address regional threats and strategic competition.
- Berlin announced a new framework agreement for advanced-technology cooperation that explicitly targets joint work on semiconductors, artificial intelligence and quantum research.
- Germany and South Korea agreed on multiple AI accords and plans to link their AI security institutes, and Seoul will serve as partner country at next year’s German Digital Summit with President Lee expected to attend.
- The move builds on the 2011 EU–South Korea free-trade deal and large German business ties in Korea, and it advances Chancellor Merz’s proposal for a network of like-minded states to expand rule-based free trade and reduce dependence on single-country suppliers.