S.Korea and Canada expand defense cooperation from historic alliance to advanced security partnership

South Korea and Canada are moving to deepen their partnership beyond long-standing diplomatic ties, focusing on practical cooperation in defense technology and the defense industry.

The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea announced on December 7 that Vice Minister Lee Doo-hee presided over the Korea-Canada Defense and Defense Industry Cooperation Conference held in Ottawa on the 6th (local time). The event brought together more than 120 participants, including Canadian Minister for Defence Procurement Steven Fuhr, Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Commissioner Seok Jong-gun, and officials from both governments and armed forces.

The conference marks the first official step to implement the Security and Defense Cooperation Partnership signed during the bilateral summit last month.

In his opening remarks, Vice Minister Lee said, “South Korea and Canada share a history of unconditional solidarity, beginning with the Korean War. We hope this partnership will foster a cooperative framework that enables mutual contribution and shared growth across defense, defense industry, and related sectors.”

Minister Fuhr emphasized that the historical alliance is evolving into future-focused strategic cooperation.

“South Korea and Canada fought side-by-side during the Korean War,” Fuhr noted. “The recently established partnership represents a transition from historical solidarity to forward-looking defense collaboration. We see expanding opportunities in defense investment, technology cooperation, and logistics.”

In his keynote speech, DAPA Commissioner Seok highlighted the strategic relevance of cooperation amid shifting dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.

“South Korea and Canada are strategic partners rooted in shared values of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law,” Seok said. “Our cooperation should evolve from basic industrial exchange into a mutually reinforcing partnership where security stability and industrial capability support each other.”

Discussions during the conference focused on strengthening bilateral defense engagement and exploring collaboration opportunities in Canada’s defense industry revitalization efforts.

A key point of attention was Canada’s plan to procure and maintain submarines under a program estimated at up to 60 trillion KRW. South Korean defense firms have been shortlisted as eligible candidates, positioning the program as a potential catalyst for broader industrial cooperation.

During a separate meeting, Vice Minister Lee, Commissioner Seok, and Minister Fuhr agreed that “the submarine program could serve as a strategic accelerator for bilateral defense cooperation,” and committed to pursuing continuous joint efforts.

Following this conference, South Korea and Canada are expected to accelerate a long-term cooperation track that expands from defense diplomacy to co-development projects and advanced defense technology partnership.