{"id":2201624,"date":"2023-07-07T17:47:22","date_gmt":"2023-07-07T08:47:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2201624"},"modified":"2023-07-10T17:46:26","modified_gmt":"2023-07-10T08:46:26","slug":"how-south-koreas-burgeoning-arms-industry-shakes-up-nato-dynamics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/07\/how-south-koreas-burgeoning-arms-industry-shakes-up-nato-dynamics\/","title":{"rendered":"How South Korea\u2019s burgeoning arms industry shakes up NATO dynamics"},"content":{"rendered":"
At last year\u2019s North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in <\/span>Madrid<\/span><\/a>, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was a novice on the international stage. Fresh from his electoral victory, his political and foreign policy experience was minimal and his rapport with fellow leaders was virtually non-existent.<\/span><\/p>\n Yoon was the first ROK president to participate in a NATO Summit, an inclusion that sparked <\/span>curiosity<\/span><\/a> among international observers questioning the presence of non-NATO leaders at the meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n A year later, the atmosphere is quite different as he prepares for his second NATO Summit, slated to occur early next week in Vilnius, Lithuania. Yoon is no longer an outsider; instead, he is expected to receive a <\/span>warm reception<\/span><\/a> from his fellow heads of state.<\/span><\/p>\n Against the backdrop of this diplomatic gathering is the persistent crisis in Ukraine, where Russia\u2019s invasion is well into its second year. NATO remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine, a reality that has considerably influenced the alliance\u2019s interactions and strategies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Seoul\u2019s <\/span>initial response<\/span><\/a> to Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine was perceived as lackluster, which put Yoon under intense scrutiny during last year\u2019s summit in Madrid. The alliance <\/span>hoped<\/span><\/a> he would provide explicit military support for Ukraine, a move he hesitated to make. He <\/span>cited<\/span><\/a> South Korea\u2019s laws prohibiting arming countries where weapons will be used for anything other than \u201cpeaceful purposes\u201d unless such arms shipments receive National Assembly approval.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Nevertheless, South Korea\u2019s hesitance in the past seems to have been eclipsed by its <\/span>recent ascent<\/span><\/a> as a key exporter of military hardware. This development has occurred at near-perfect timing, subtly shifting the narrative about the country\u2019s role and influence within NATO.<\/span><\/p>\n BURGEONING ARMS INDUSTRY<\/b><\/p>\n Over the past two decades, the ROK has experienced a remarkable ascension in the global defense sector. Its market share in defense exports has been on a steady upward trajectory and, from 2016 to 2021, witnessed an impressive doubling of its global market share to <\/span>2.8%<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n This trend gained considerable momentum in 2022, when ROK defense exports experienced another <\/span>surge<\/span><\/a>, jumping from $7.25 billion in the previous year to an estimated $17 billion. The considerable increase positioned South Korea as the eighth-largest weapons exporter globally, a status that Yoon aims to leverage. He has set an ambitious target of making the ROK the <\/span>fourth-largest weapons exporter by 2027<\/span><\/a>, a rank currently held by China and preceded by the U.S., Russia, and France.<\/span><\/p>\n South Korea\u2019s emergence is notable in an industry traditionally dominated by <\/span>Western suppliers<\/span><\/a>. Between 2017 and 2021, North American and European countries accounted for 87% of global weapons exports.<\/span><\/p>\n The ROK\u2019s burgeoning reputation extends beyond quantity. The country has become known for producing high-quality, state-of-the-art military equipment at competitive prices and unparalleled delivery speeds. A testament to this was when South Korea <\/span>delivered<\/span><\/a> the first batch of the 1,000 contracted K2 Black Panther tanks to Poland in Dec. 2022, a mere six months after placing the order.<\/span><\/p>\n These tanks, howitzers and FA-50 fighters, though not intended for direct use in Ukraine, play an important strategic role. They allow Poland to allocate more of its Soviet-era weapons to Ukraine, significantly altering the military balance in Eastern Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n Further, the ROK has been <\/span>exporting ammunition<\/span><\/a> to the U.S., which has helped free up American resources for Ukraine. The country also seeks to expand its market to other NATO members and partners, including Turkey, Norway and Finland.<\/span><\/p>\n At a time when NATO is <\/span>struggling<\/span><\/a> to keep up with Ukraine\u2019s demand for equipment, South Korea\u2019s ability to supply quality weaponry swiftly and efficiently represents a significant contribution to the alliance\u2019s efforts.<\/span><\/p>\n