Europe’s Defense Revival: What’s at Stake for South Korea

This paper examines how South Korea can enhance defense engagement patterns with a range of European actors in light of the sizeable arms export deals the country has secured so far and proceeds as follows: First, it provides context for South Korea’s approach to arms exports and the key assets that have underpinned its success in the global procurement market, particularly in light of the lessons learned from the ongoing war in Ukraine. Second, it explores Seoul’s defense engagements with three European countries—Poland, Germany, and the United Kingdom (UK)—each of which represents particular dynamics that reflect the fragmented and heterogeneous nature of the region’s defense landscape. Finally, it identifies elements that South Korea should consider to consolidate its position. The first element pertains to creating a more conducive financial framework for facilitating defense export deals. The second element refers to ongoing initiatives in the EU aimed at incentivizing its member states to develop the necessary industrial depth. This analysis represents an important and timely intervention that contributes to the debate on South Korea’s defense and security choices amid the persisting gap between its quest to assume an integral role in the greater regional and global security architecture and an atmosphere of constraint, especially in South Korea’s domestic and immediate neighborhood.