“S. Korea–Saudi Arabia Advance Future-Oriented Defense and Defense Industry Cooperation”

Minister Ahn Gyu-back meets with Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud.

Signs a Defense R&D Cooperation MOU.

Encourages defense firms at World Defense Show.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, far right, visits booths of Korean defense firms at Saudi Arabia's World Defense Show 2026 and speaks with officials in Feb. 2026, local time.

During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back accelerated sales-focused military diplomacy to position Korea as one of the world's top four defense industry powerhouses.

On February 8 (local time), Minister Ahn met with Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Defense, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and held the South Korea-Saudi Arabia defense ministerial meeting. Korea's Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Defense Development (GADD) signed an MOU on defense research and development cooperation.

At the meeting, Minister Ahn proposed developing mutually beneficial and future-oriented defense and defense industry cooperation, with Korea serving as a key partner for "Saudi Vision 2030." Furthermore, Minister Ahn suggested that Minister Khalid visit Korea later this year. Minister Khalid responded that Saudi Arabia and Korea share a future-oriented strategic partnership and that he expects Korea's outstanding technology and experience to contribute to strengthening Saudi Arabia's defense capabilities.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, second from left, and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, second from right, pose for a photo at the signing ceremony for an MOU on defense R&D cooperation following their defense ministerial meeting on Feb. 8, local time.

The two ministers assessed that the MOU on defense R&D cooperation lays the foundation for a future-oriented strategic partnership to establish a mutually beneficial joint cooperation system in areas such as research and development, defense technology, and system innovation.

Meanwhile, Minister Ahn visited the booths of Korean defense firms participating in Saudi Arabia's World Defense Show (WDS) 2026. Minister Ahn toured every corner of the booths, listened to voices from the field, and encouraged defense firm representatives dedicated to export promotion.

The WDS is the largest defense industry exhibition in the Middle East, held biennially by the Saudi Arabian government. The event was attended by over 700 companies from 80 countries. Forty Korean firms also participated in the WDS, promoting the superiority of the Korean defense industry.

By Byeong-No, Yun <[email protected] >

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