Vice Minister of Defense Meets Canadian Counterpart to Discuss Defense and Defense Industry Cooperation

Korean Company Shortlisted for Canadian Submarine Project
"Strategic Defense Industry Partnership Further Strengthened"

Lee Doohee, Vice Minister of National Defense, met with the Canadian Deputy Minister of National Defence on November 5 (local time) to discuss ways to enhance bilateral defense and defense industry cooperation.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, Vice Minister Lee visited the Canadian Ministry of National Defence that morning and held talks with Stephanie Beck, Deputy Minister of National Defence of Canada.

The two vice ministers agreed that the relationship between the two countries has been further strengthened following last month's Korea-Canada summit. They evaluated the achievements such as the signing of the "Korea-Canada Security and Defense Cooperation Partnership" and the establishment of a new defense industry consultative body. They also agreed to promptly develop concrete implementation measures through working-level consultations.

Vice Minister Lee highlighted that a Korean company was recently shortlisted as a final candidate in Canada's submarine acquisition project, emphasizing that this project goes beyond a simple export deal and further strengthens the strategic defense industry cooperation between the two countries.

The two vice ministers agreed to continue accelerating bilateral cooperation through future diplomatic and defense "2+2" ministerial meetings and to keep discussing ways to further develop the partnership.

Meanwhile, in the afternoon, Vice Minister Lee met with David Perry, President of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute (CGAI), a leading Canadian defense and security policy think tank, to exchange views on the future direction of defense and defense industry cooperation between Korea and Canada, as well as practical ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Vice Minister Lee stated, "The Korea-Canada relationship is closer than ever," and expressed hope that "the defense and defense industry partnership between the two countries will continue to grow stronger."