Lee and Macron Pledge Deeper Security Ties After Paris Summit

September 9, 2026 at 07:22 PM2 min

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South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged on September 8 to deepen defense cooperation and coordinate on securing free passage through the Hormuz Strait. The summit was the centerpiece of Lee's two-day state visit to France, which also produced agreements on artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, and trade.

Key Facts

South Korea and France agreed to pursue $20 billion in two-way trade by 2030.
Samsung Electronics led a 3 billion euro funding round for French AI startup Mistral, valuing it at more than 21 billion euro.
The two countries signed an amended protocol on protecting military secrets, expanding the list of French officials with access to classified material.
South Korea has not decided on troop deployment to the Hormuz Strait, and any deployment would require National Assembly approval.

Defense and Security Cooperation

Lee and Macron agreed to achieve a 'genuine leap forward' in defense and security cooperation to jointly respond to uncertainties in the international order. The two governments will move quickly toward signing a reciprocal military logistics support agreement. South Korea and France signed an amended protocol to their existing pact on protecting military secrets. The amendment expands the list of French officials with access to classified material and tightens rules on its handling.

Hormuz Strait Coordination

Lee said South Korea and France agreed to continue close coordination so that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the stability of global supply chains can be restored as soon as possible. Seoul officials cautioned that the discussion should not be read as a decision on troop deployment. South Korea has been weighing a range of contributions, including military options, but no decision has been made. Any deployment, even of a small number of personnel, would require National Assembly approval under South Korean law.

Economic and Technology Agreements

Lee said the countries agreed to pursue $20 billion, or about 27 trillion won, in two-way trade by 2030. Roughly 20 Korean and French companies took part in a business roundtable on new investment opportunities. Trade promotion agencies KOTRA and Business France signed a cooperation document to expand support for companies entering each other's markets. Samsung Electronics led a 3 billion euro funding round for French AI startup Mistral, valuing the company at more than 21 billion euro. The investment gives Samsung a strategic stake as the two work on an in-house AI model for the Korean firm's chipmaking operations.