President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron held a summit in Seoul on April 3, agreeing to cooperate on securing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz amid the Middle East war's energy crisis. The two nations upgraded their ties to a 'global strategic partnership' and set a goal to expand bilateral trade to $20 billion by 2030. They signed multiple memorandums of understanding across various sectors.
President Lee Jae Myung said during a joint press announcement, "President Macron and I agreed to share policy-related experiences and strategies in order to jointly address the economic and energy crises triggered by the Middle East war." He added, "We confirmed our commitment to bolstering energy security... while collaborating to secure safe maritime transport routes through the Strait of Hormuz."
Macron underscored the need for France and South Korea to cooperate to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and deescalate conflict in the Middle East. The leaders agreed to boost trade to $20 billion annually by 2030, up from $15 billion last year, and pledged cooperation in AI, semiconductors, quantum technology, establishing a science and technology committee.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power signed MOUs with Orano, Framatome on nuclear power, and EDF on an offshore wind plant in Yeonggwang. Defense ministers Ahn Gyu-back and Catherine Vautrin, culture ministers Chae Hwi-young and Catherine Pegard, and science ministers Bae Kyung-hoon and Philippe Baptiste held talks. First ladies Kim Hea Kyung and Brigitte Macron visited the National Museum of Korea.
Macron invited Lee to the June G7 summit in Evian, France, which Lee accepted. The visit marks Macron's first to South Korea since 2017 and the first by a French president in 11 years, coinciding with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties established via the Treaty with the Joseon Dynasty. France sent over 3,000 troops during the Korean War.
