South Korea, Qatar Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Boost Defense Cooperation – Reports

MOSCOW, February 7 (Sputnik) – South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik has signed a memorandum of understanding with his Qatari counterpart, Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, to boost bilateral cooperation in the field of defense amid Seoul’s push to increase arms exports to the Middle East, Yonhap reported on Wednesday citing officials familiar with the matter.

On Tuesday, Shin paid a visit to Doha to meet with Al Attiyah.

The memorandum envisages that the parties will hold regular talks on the ministerial level, as well as take steps aimed at establishing a foundation for enhanced cooperation within defense, the news agency reported. Besides that, Seoul and Doha will stage joint drills and increase exchanges between defense-related institutes, according to the report.

Shin’s visit came after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol paid a visit to Qatar in October last year, where he met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and discussed cooperation in various fields including defense. The parties signed several contracts and memorandums during Yoon’s visit.