What Is the Perception of Defence Industrial Partnerships with the EDTIB by Non-EU Countries? The Case of South Korea

In 2024, the European Commission introduced the European Defence Industrial Strategy, designed to transform Europe’s defence industry into a more competitive, innovative, and efficient sector. This transformation will be facilitated through the European Defence Fund and various cooperation programs. Similarly, South Korea’s defence policy underscores the importance of strengthening supply chains through innovation and international collaboration, thereby enhancing its global stature. Although European-Korean defence cooperation has historically been limited, the European Defence Technology and Industrial Base’s (EDTIB) emphasis on innovation, coupled with South Korea’s substantial investments in defence technology, may foster new collaborative opportunities. Given the protracted recovery of supply chains post-COVID-19 and ongoing financial challenges, South Korea’s established manufacturing base in Europe positions it as a viable alternative.