Egypt and South Korea have established a strategic partnership to enhance cooperation in various fields, including politics, defence, trade, investment, education, and regional security. This agreement was reached during President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's state visit to South Korea from 7 to 9 October, at the invitation of President Lee Jae-myung. The visit follows Lee's trip to Egypt in November 2025 to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The strategic partnership was announced through a joint statement, which highlighted the importance both countries attach to bilateral relations. The statement said the reciprocal visits by the two presidents reflected their commitment to strengthening ties, including through the joint committee chaired by their foreign ministers. Egypt welcomed South Korea's S.H.I.N.E. initiative, its policy towards the Middle East announced at Cairo University during Lee's 2025 visit.
The two countries have agreed to deepen and broaden cooperation through the strategic partnership in five areas. They will strengthen high-level political exchanges and communication at different levels, including continued dialogue and consultations between their foreign ministries. These consultations will serve as a channel for exchanging views on key areas of strategic cooperation and other issues of common interest at the bilateral, regional, and international levels.
Egypt and South Korea have also welcomed continued cooperation in the defence sector and said they would pursue further progress in defence industry cooperation. They reaffirmed their firm commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties as a central pillar of broader economic cooperation. In this context, the two presidents welcomed the launch of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
The countries will expand cooperation and increase investment across manufacturing, particularly shipbuilding and electric vehicles, as well as energy, infrastructure, advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and smart cities. Cooperation will also encompass developing the Suez Canal Economic Zone and localizing industries. Both sides recognized Egypt's strategic importance as a gateway to Africa and affirmed the strong potential to expand trilateral cooperation between Egypt, South Korea, and African countries.
Egypt and South Korea will continue implementing cooperation under their memoranda of understanding on culture and education. They reaffirmed their commitment to encouraging further cultural exchanges and agreed to designate 2027 as a year of cultural exchanges. Both countries also expressed interest in and commitment to developing educational programmes, including scholarships, Korean-language education, and youth training initiatives.
The strategic partnership between Egypt and South Korea is seen as a qualitative advancement in bilateral relations, opening broader prospects for cooperation that benefits both peoples and contributes to stability and prosperity. During El-Sisi's visit, 12 MoUs and agreements were signed, covering various areas of cooperation. The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to working together for peace and stability in the Middle East and on the Korean Peninsula.
Key points
- Egypt and South Korea have established a strategic partnership to enhance cooperation in politics, defence, trade, investment, education, and regional security.
- The partnership was agreed upon during President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's state visit to South Korea from 7 to 9 October.
- The two countries have welcomed continued cooperation in the defence sector and have agreed to pursue further progress in defence industry cooperation.
