President Lee Jae Myung unveiled the SHINE initiative for Middle East cooperation at Cairo University. The initiative emphasizes stability, harmony, innovation, network, and education to promote peace, deepen economic partnerships, and expand cultural exchanges. In a summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the two nations agreed to enhance cooperation on peace and defense.
President Lee Jae Myung unveiled the SHINE initiative at Cairo University on November 20, 2025. SHINE stands for Stability, Harmony, Innovation, Network, and Education, presenting stability and harmony as key principles for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East. "Our government aims to end the era of hostility and confrontation between the two Koreas and open a new era of peaceful coexistence and shared growth," he said.
In the summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the two nations emphasized their roles as 'facilitators of peace' and discussed cooperation on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Lee pledged $10 million in aid to the Egyptian Red Crescent to support relief and recovery efforts in the Gaza Strip. In defense, they agreed to expand cooperation beyond joint K9 howitzer production to include FA-50 aircraft and Cheongeom anti-tank missiles, building on a 2022 $1.7 billion contract with Hanwha Aerospace.
Economically, they committed to pursuing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Lee noted, "The Miracle on the Han River would not have been possible without the Middle East's support in energy and infrastructure projects. It is now our turn to contribute to the 'Miracle of the Nile.'" He proposed exchanges between the Grand Egyptian Museum and the National Museum of Korea to broaden cultural ties.
Meanwhile, First Lady Kim Hea Kyung and Intissar el-Sisi discussed traditional foods and women's rights, then toured the Giza Pyramid complex and Grand Egyptian Museum. Kim expressed hope to personally serve halal-certified Korean food. Lee met with the Korean community in Egypt, describing South Korea's democratic recovery as a 'miracle-like' chapter in history.
The Egypt visit is the second leg of a four-nation tour following the UAE, with upcoming stops at the G20 summit in Johannesburg and Turkey.
