Marcos and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung Seal Major Defense, Nuclear, and AI Deals in Manila Summit
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to Malacañang on Tuesday for a state visit that yielded a sweeping set of agreements on defense, nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals — a clear signal that both nations are doubling down on their alliance amid rising global tensions.
The summit, which coincided with the 77th anniversary of Philippine-South Korean diplomatic relations, saw both leaders acknowledge what Marcos called "growing uncertainty in geopolitical developments." They agreed on the need to uphold a rules-based international order, particularly in the maritime domain — a thinly veiled reference to China's aggressive moves in the South China Sea.
Among the key outcomes: South Korean companies will help modernize the Philippine military, and both countries will expand cooperation in shipbuilding, nuclear energy, and AI. They also plan to work together on critical minerals and supply chains — resources that have become increasingly strategic as global competition heats up.
The two leaders also discussed the volatile situation in the Middle East during their talks. Multiple memoranda of understanding were signed covering digital technology, defense procurement, agriculture, intellectual property, foreign language education, culture, and even police investigations.
This was Lee's second meeting with Marcos, following their initial sit-down at the APEC summit in late October. The breadth of Tuesday's agreements suggests the Philippines-South Korea partnership is being fast-tracked from friendly to full strategic alliance.
Source: Reuters
