South Korea is stepping up its outreach to Middle Eastern buyers as it pursues potential weapons contracts worth US$15 billion in the United Arab Emirates, seeking to build on its success in Europe and solidify its reputation as a dependable arms supplier.
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South Korean President Lee Jae-myung flew to Abu Dhabi for a summit with the UAE counterpart Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Tuesday, coinciding with the Dubai Air Show where Korea Aerospace Industries showcased its KF-21 fighter jet.
Following the meeting, Lee’s office said the two countries agreed to pursue a model of joint development, local production and exports to third countries for defence cooperation.
“The establishment of this comprehensive value chain will raise the chances of our defence firms securing deals worth more than US$15 billion,” Lee’s chief of staff, Kang Hoon-sik, told reporters after the meeting.
While Kang did not elaborate on the potential deal, the UAE has expressed interest in the KF-21. In April, UAE Air Force officials toured KAI’s manufacturing facilities, and one commander even joined a test flight of the jet’s prototype.
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The UAE previously pursued a purchase of US F-35s but suspended negotiations in 2021 after Washington demanded that it remove Huawei Technologies’ equipment from its telecommunications network and take other steps to limit ties with China.
