South Korea and Canada Move to Expand Defense, Energy and AI Cooperation
The foreign ministers of South Korea and Canada agreed to deepen practical cooperation in defense, advanced technology, energy security and critical-mineral supply chains during telephone talks.
South Korea and Canada agreed to broaden cooperation in defense, energy, artificial intelligence and critical minerals during telephone talks between their foreign ministers on Wednesday, according to Seoul’s foreign ministry.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand called for more practical collaboration in defense and the arms industry under the bilateral Security and Defense Cooperation Partnership. The framework was established in October 2025 following a summit in Gyeongju and was Canada’s first partnership of its kind with an Indo-Pacific country.
The discussion places industrial and technological cooperation alongside conventional diplomatic and security coordination. The ministers agreed to use a joint science and technology committee meeting scheduled in Seoul next month to discuss advanced technologies, including AI.
Energy security and critical-mineral supply chains were also central to the talks. The two sides said they would strengthen cooperation aimed at securing stable energy supplies and continue discussions through bilateral and multilateral channels on resilient mineral supply chains. South Korea’s imports of Canadian crude oil and liquefied natural gas have increased recently, the ministry said.
For Seoul, closer ties with Canada offer a route to diversify supplies of energy and strategic raw materials while supporting Korean companies investing in sectors linked to the global transition toward advanced manufacturing and cleaner technologies. For Ottawa, the partnership provides a deeper connection with a major Asian economy and a significant investor in batteries and advanced materials.
Cho asked the Canadian government to continue supporting Korean companies operating in Canada so their investments and business activities can proceed smoothly. Korean firms are making large-scale investments in Canadian strategic industries, including battery production and advanced materials.
The ministers also exchanged views on regional and global issues, including developments in the Middle East. They agreed to maintain cooperation intended to support peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and across the wider region.
The call did not announce a new treaty or specific investment package. Instead, it set out areas where the two governments intend to turn their existing partnership into concrete cooperation, with the science and technology committee meeting next month providing an early venue for follow-up discussions.