Marcos and South Korea's Lee Jae Myung Seal Big Deals on Nukes, AI, and Defense in Manila Summit
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung sat down for a major bilateral meeting at Malacañang on Tuesday, with both leaders stressing that the world is getting more unpredictable and their two countries need each other more than ever.
The two presidents didn't hold back on ambition. They agreed to expand cooperation in shipbuilding, nuclear energy, and artificial intelligence — areas where South Korea is a global heavyweight. Lee also pledged that Korean companies would help modernize the Philippine military, which has been ramping up its capabilities amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.
Marcos pointed out that both sides "recognize growing uncertainty in geopolitical developments" and agreed on the need to uphold a rules-based international order, including in the maritime domain — a not-so-subtle reference to China's aggressive moves in the West Philippine Sea.
Beyond security, the leaders signed memorandums of understanding covering digital technology, agriculture, intellectual property, foreign language education, culture, and even police investigations. They also discussed critical minerals and supply chain cooperation — areas that have become strategic priorities globally.
The Middle East crisis was also on the agenda, with both leaders exchanging views on the escalating conflict in the region. Lee's Manila visit underscores South Korea's pivot toward strengthening ties with Southeast Asian nations as geopolitical tensions reshape alliances across the Indo-Pacific.
Source: Reuters
