The South Korean presidential office announced Thursday a forthcoming presidential six-day visit to Lithuania and Poland from July 10 to 15. Accompanied by first lady Kim Keon-hee, President Yoon Suk-yeol will first visit Vilnius, Lithuania, where he will attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, marking his second participation in a NATO summit since his inauguration. During the summit, he will discuss key issues including the Ukraine conflict, NATO-Indo-Pacific cooperation and evolving security threats. Additional engagements include meetings with the NATO Secretary General and leaders from the Netherlands, Norway, and Lithuania, as well as participation in the AP4 (South Korea-Japan-Australia-New Zealand) summit.

A senior official told reporters that arrangements are also in progress for a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at the NATO meeting. The official clarified that while specific discussion topics are not predetermined, the two leaders will likely discuss Tokyo’s plan to release the ALPS-treated water from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Yoon will proceed to Poland on July 12, making him the first South Korean president to visit Poland in 14 years. Yoon is set to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda to discuss further developing the two countries’ strategic partnership. The senior official also clarified that a presidential visit to neighboring Ukraine is neither planned nor being considered.

Why It Matters

Yoon’s announced visit to Lithuania and Poland signifies a continuation of his values-based approach to foreign policy, emphasizing democratic solidarity and multilateral cooperation. His attendance at the NATO summit, the second since his inauguration, further underscores his commitment to engaging with international defense bodies and aligning with nations that share South Korea’s democratic values. The summit will likely involve discussions about South Korea’s continued provision of material support to Ukraine and post-war reconstruction plans. However, the possibility of Seoul providing direct military hardware to Kyiv still remains uncertain.

The presidential office’s clarification that Yoon does not plan to visit neighboring Ukraine reflects South Korea’s approach to Russia. Moscow threatened some type of retaliation in response to Yoon’s suggestion that Seoul could provide lethal aid to Ukraine in April. Seoul seems intent on supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts without directly provoking Russia.

The upcoming visit to Poland also marks a pivotal moment in South Korea-Poland relations. Despite numerous ministerial-level meetings between the two nations, a presidential visit is a significant development, further strengthening diplomatic ties and strategic cooperation. However, this visit could also raise tensions with Russia, as South Korea has been assisting in the replenishment of Poland’s weapons stock. This followed Poland’s donation of a significant portion of its Soviet-era weapons to aid Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion.