1950‑53 – The Netherlands joins 22 nations that send troops to support South Korea during the Korean War, establishing a historic security bond that underpins today’s defence cooperation talks. [19]

2010 – South Korea and the European Union elevate relations to a strategic partnership, laying the foundation for the strategic dialogues launched in late 2024. [8]

2023 – South Korea and Qatar upgrade to a comprehensive strategic partnership, making Qatar Seoul’s largest LNG supplier and a key platform for future defence and investment projects. [5]

Nov 2024 – The first South Korea‑Canada 2+2 foreign and defence talks take place in Ottawa, creating a precedent for high‑level security dialogue. [1]

Oct 2024 – At the APEC summit in Gyeongju, President Lee Jae Myung and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney negotiate a military intelligence‑sharing pact that later receives cabinet approval. [6]

Late 2024 – South Korea and the EU launch their inaugural strategic dialogue, expanding cooperation across security, defence, economy and science‑technology. [8]

Dec 4 2025 – South Korea meets a NATO Parliamentary Assembly delegation in Seoul; Vice Minister Jeong Yeon‑doo highlights joint work on cybersecurity, advanced technologies and defence‑industry projects, and briefs the delegation on Korean peace initiatives. [29]

Dec 4 2025 – South Korea and Romania hold their first phone talks on defence and nuclear cooperation, with President Nicuşor Dan praising Korean technology and reliability. [28]

Dec 9 2025 – In Seoul, the Joint Higher Military Committee meeting between Defence Minister Ahn Gyu‑back and UAE counterpart Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei expands cyber, space and AI cooperation, sets up personnel exchanges and aims to finalize a basic‑level arms‑industry framework by February 2026. [27]

Dec 17 2025 – Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide visits Seoul, urges a close security partnership to counter North Korea‑Russia cooperation, and proposes joint work on advanced tech and critical minerals. [23]

Dec 17 2025 – The head of South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration meets the British ambassador in Gwacheon, discusses Hanwha‑Babcock shipbuilding and Hanwha‑BAE satellite collaborations, and schedules follow‑up talks in 2026. [25]

Dec 17 2025 – In Seoul, Industry Minister Kim Jung‑kwan and UAE Industry Minister Sultan Al Jaber outline Korea’s role in the UAE’s “Stargate” AI‑computing project, expand joint oil‑stockpiling, and plan a joint energy forum to help triple global renewable capacity by 2030. [24]

Dec 18 2025 – South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun holds a phone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al‑Saud, stressing Saudi Arabia’s status as Korea’s top crude supplier and a partner in Vision 2030, and pledges deeper economic cooperation. [21]

Dec 18 2025 – Korea‑UAE AI and energy talks reiterate the Stargate collaboration, highlight Korean semiconductor and data‑center expertise, and agree to increase joint oil stockpiling for energy security. [24]

Jan 2 2026 – Foreign Minister Cho Hyun announces a restructuring of overseas missions, scrapping plans for new embassies, concentrating resources on key posts and granting heads of mission greater authority to support Korean nationals and businesses abroad. [20]

Jan 13 2026 – South Korea and the Netherlands discuss expanding defence cooperation in AI, space, cyber and arms‑industry exchanges, recalling the Netherlands’ contribution of troops during the Korean War as a basis for continued security support. [19]

Jan 14 2026 – President Lee schedules a Seoul meeting with UAE senior official Khaldoon Al Mubarak to advance joint weapons development, targeting a basic‑level arms‑cooperation agreement by February 2026 and a UAE‑president state visit later in the year. [18]

Jan 15 2026 – President Lee meets Abu Dhabi Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, declares a “100‑year partnership,” pushes for a UAE president’s state visit, and sets a February deadline for basic‑level arms‑industry conclusions. [17]

Jan 15 2026 – South Korea and Britain hold two‑day defence talks in London; officials propose an MOU on defence science‑technology, explore Hanwha‑Ocean × Babcock shipbuilding and Hanwha‑Systems × BAE satellite projects, and agree to fast‑track the agreement. [16]

Jan 16 2026 – Ambassador for International Cyber Affairs Youn Jong‑kwon and NATO’s Boris Ruge hold a policy dialogue in Brussels, pledging deeper cooperation in cybersecurity, defence and space amid U.S.–China rivalry and the Ukraine war. [15]

Jan 19 2026 – Deputy Foreign Minister Park Jong‑han and U.S. Office of Space Commerce director Taylor Jordan meet in Seoul, stressing the need for trustworthy supply chains and joint market entry for space firms in the expanding global space economy. [13]

Jan 19 2026 – Trade Minister Yeo Han‑koo and Egypt’s Hassan El‑Khatib sign a joint statement to launch CEPA negotiations, and Yeo meets the Suez Canal Economic Zone chair to explore Qualifying Industrial Zones as duty‑free gateways to the U.S. market. [14]

Jan 20 2026 – Foreign Minister Cho Hyun begins a four‑day Turkey trip, reviewing nuclear, defence, bio and infrastructure projects, then proceeds to Belgium for the second Korea‑EU strategic dialogue with EU High Representative Kaja Kallas. [12]

Jan 20 2026 – President Lee holds a phone call with Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, seeking broader cooperation in defence, energy and infrastructure and arranging an in‑person meeting soon. [11]

Jan 21 2026 – Cho Hyun meets Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, agrees to finalize follow‑up documents to the nuclear partnership MOU signed the previous year, and reinforces the strategic partnership forged during President Lee’s November state visit. [10]

Jan 22 2026 – South Korea and the EU conduct their second strategic dialogue in Brussels; Cho Hyun and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas discuss security, defence, trade and share assessments of the Korean Peninsula, Ukraine and the Middle East. [8]

Jan 22‑23 2026 – Lt. Gen. Kwon Dae‑won attends the NATO Military Committee meeting in Brussels, meets Chair Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, and presents South Korea’s perspective on Korean‑Peninsula security as part of its 11th NATO participation since 2010. [9]

Jan 23 2026 – In Brussels, Cho Hyun meets NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Sekerinska and Belgium Deputy Prime Minister David Clarinval, celebrates the 125th anniversary of Korea‑Belgium diplomatic ties and commits to expanding peace‑focused cooperation. [7]

Jan 27 2026 – The South Korean Cabinet formally approves the military intelligence‑sharing pact with Canada, a deal first negotiated at the October 2024 Gyeongju APEC summit, enabling streamlined classified data exchange and broader defence‑industry collaboration. [6]

Jan 28 2026 – President Lee invites Qatar’s Emir Tamim to South Korea, emphasizing the need for frank discussions on defence, investment and energy, and noting Qatar’s role as Korea’s largest LNG supplier since the 2023 strategic partnership upgrade. [5]

Feb 2 2026 – South Korea and Poland launch a bilateral security dialogue platform in Warsaw, focusing on Korean‑Peninsula issues and strengthening Europe‑Northeast Asia security links. [4]

Feb 20 2026 – South Korea and Canada schedule 2+2 foreign and defence talks in Ottawa for the following Wednesday, plan to sign a joint military‑intelligence‑sharing agreement and hold a press briefing, while South Korea pushes its $41 billion submarine bid ahead of the early‑March proposal deadline. [1][2]

Feb 20 2026 – South Korea and India convene a conference of about 200 officials, led by Trade Minister Yeo Han‑koo, to deepen cooperation in AI, supply‑chain resilience, green energy and to improve the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. [3]

Early Mar 2026 (planned) – South Korea must submit its proposal for the Canadian submarine procurement, a contract valued at roughly US$41 billion that could secure up to twelve 3,000‑ton submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy. [1]

Feb 2026 (target) – South Korea aims to reach a basic‑level conclusion on bilateral arms‑industry cooperation with the UAE, paving the way for concrete joint weapons projects and a UAE‑president state visit later in the year. [14][18][17]

Later 2026 (planned) – The UAE president Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is slated to visit South Korea, and Qatar’s Emir Tamim is expected to make an early‑year state visit following the invitation extended on Jan 28. [5][11]