[fn Editorial] President Lee’s Tour of the Middle East and Africa: Expanding Horizons for Economic Cooperation

On the 17th, President Lee Jae Myung began his official visit to major countries in the Middle East and Africa. The seven-night, ten-day itinerary includes stops in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Republic of South Africa (RSA), and Republic of Türkiye. This marks the resumption of summit diplomacy just sixteen days after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju.
The countries included in this tour have traditionally maintained friendly relations with Korea. The UAE, the first destination, is the only country in the Middle East with which Korea has established a 'special strategic partnership,' encompassing the broadest scope of political, economic, and security cooperation. Egypt and RSA serve as gateways to the African continent and are both members of the Group of Twenty (G20), making them key bases for expanding Korea’s economic and diplomatic influence. In particular, RSA is rich in mineral resources, offering significant potential for cooperation in core industries of the carbon-neutral era such as rechargeable batteries and the hydrogen economy. The Republic of Türkiye, a strategic bridge between Europe and the Middle East, holds strong growth potential in defense, infrastructure, and nuclear power sectors.
On the 18th, President Lee is scheduled to hold a summit with President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE, where they will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote cooperation in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the defense industry. In Egypt, he will visit Cairo University to outline Korea’s vision for the Middle East. In Johannesburg, RSA, he will attend the G20 summit to discuss a 'fair future.' Finally, in Ankara, the capital of the Republic of Türkiye, he will meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to explore ways to expand economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and cultural exchanges.
The Middle East and Africa are of great significance to Korea’s economy in terms of expanding supply chains and pioneering new markets. The Middle East has long been a key partner for energy security, but recently, cooperation has broadened to include renewable energy and the defense industry. Africa, a treasure trove of critical minerals such as lithium and cobalt, has also emerged as a vast consumer market.
During this tour, the Korean government must focus on building a 'sustainable and mutually beneficial partnership.' Rather than limiting efforts to short-term export growth or investment attraction, it is essential to establish a mid- to long-term cooperation framework encompassing energy, technology, and human exchanges. If Korea leverages its expertise in hydrogen, nuclear power, and eco-friendly infrastructure to support the Middle East and Africa in their transition away from fossil fuels, it can create a model for sustainable co-prosperity. Expanding youth and skilled workforce exchanges to build human networks is also crucial.
President Lee’s tour of four countries in Africa and the Middle East is expected to serve as a pivotal moment in broadening the horizons of Korea’s diplomacy and trade. It is necessary to elevate regional partnerships to a 'comprehensive partnership' that connects people, technology, and culture, beyond traditional cooperation in energy and industry. We hope this tour will mark the beginning of a new paradigm in international cooperation.