From Seas to Skies: Saudi Arabia, South Korea Deepen Strategic Defense Ties
As the region is rattled by military tensions and disrupted maritime corridors, the naval leadership of Saudi Arabia and South Korea convened in Riyadh to address growing security challenges and explore avenues for strengthening defense cooperation.
The meeting highlights a deepening defense alliance anchored in the strategic partnership between Riyadh and Seoul. In line with the localization objectives of Vision 2030, South Korea has emerged as an indispensable partner, supporting Saudi Arabia’s efforts to build its sovereign capabilities.
Maritime Security in Focus
Driving the News: The Chief of Staff of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), Vice Admiral Mohammed Alghuraibi, received South Korea’s Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Kim Kyung-ryul, in Riyadh on September 1, according to the Saudi Defense Ministry.
The Big Picture: During their meeting, the two navy chiefs discussed bilateral defense cooperation, stressing the need to further strengthen it to bolster the security and safety of maritime navigation.
Between the Lines: The meeting took place at a critical time for the region amid heightened military tensions involving the US and Iran. The Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab Straits have become flashpoints in the ongoing conflict, with Iran and its affiliated militias targeting commercial shipping in the two key waterways.
Saudi-led Coalition in Spotlight
State of Play: The Saudi and South Korean naval chiefs highlighted the significance of the Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition in enhancing maritime security and protecting trade routes.
Moreover, they reaffirmed the coalition’s vital role in coordinating and integrating international efforts to confront maritime challenges, ensuring freedom of navigation and the sustainability of maritime trade flow.
Flashback: Saudi Arabia launched the Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition on July 30, 2026 to address and deter growing threats to maritime security, including attacks against commercial vessels, energy tankers, and naval infrastructure in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. The coalition has 14 founding members, with additional countries finalizing their national procedures to join.
Zoom In: The coalition has commenced operational deployment from its headquarters in Riyadh, the Saudi Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday, September 2.
Commodore Rashed Sheikh of Pakistan assumed his duties as Deputy Coalition Commander, alongside liaison officers from several member states and countries currently finalizing their accession procedures. Additional liaison officers will progressively report for duty in accordance with each nation’s allocated quota.
What to Watch: South Korea has evolved into a blue-water naval power, with proven shipbuilding capacity supported by modern shipyards that utilize advanced automation, robotics, and virtual reality training to accelerate production timelines.
South Korean Big Three
Seoul’s naval export power is anchored by three primary shipbuilders:
- HD Hyundai
- Hanwha Ocean
- Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI)
Why It Matters: South Korea’s shipbuilding expertise aligns with the RSNF’s modernization plans.
The Localization Factor
The Goal: Saudi Arabia seeks to reduce imports of defense equipment to ensure national security and defense sovereignty as it targets the localization of more than 50% of its military spending under Vision 2030. This push is spearheaded by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), alongside Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), the Kingdom’s commercial defense champion.
The Impact: By the end of 2024, the localization rate of military spending reached around 25%, surging from 4% in 2018.
The Catalyst: Through the World Defense Show (WDS), a biennial platform organized by GAMI, Saudi Arabia strengthens defense cooperation and partnerships with key defense industry and security players from other countries. GAMI and SAMI also participate in various defense exhibitions and major events, highlighting the Kingdom’s latest innovations and available opportunities in the military and defense industries sector.
Worth a Mention: Beyond its expertise in technology transfer and local assembly, South Korea adopts a pragmatic approach that offers competitive prices and fewer restrictions on buyers.
Saudi-Korean Defense Partnership
The Anchor: The Saudi-Korean Ministerial Committee for Defense Cooperation, established in 2019, drives the two countries’ strategic defense partnership.
The Deep Dive: Riyadh and Seoul have a track record of defense agreements, spanning air defense, land systems, joint R&D, and localization, to enhance local Saudi supply chains, provide training for Saudi engineers, and support domestic manufacturing in line with the objectives of Vision 2030.
Key Highlights:
Cheongung-II (M-SAM II) Air Defense System
In February 2024, during WDS in Riyadh, South Korea’s Defense Ministry announced a $3.2 billion agreement between defense firm LIG Nex1 and the Saudi Defense Ministry. Under the agreement, the Saudi Defense Ministry would purchase 10 batteries of the Cheongung M-SAM II mid-range, medium-altitude interception system.
Joint Defense Research & Development MoU
Saudi Arabia and South Korea signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the WDS 2026 in Riyadh. The agreement focuses on deepening joint defense research and development and strengthening cooperation between Saudi General Authority for Defense Development (GADD) and Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD).
Quality Assurance Framework Agreement
Saudi Arabia’s GAMI and South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed a government quality assurance agreement in February 2025, on the sidelines of the International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi, to deepen defense cooperation and bolster joint military capabilities and long-term industrial development.
Defense Contracts
In March 2022, the Saudi Defense Ministry announced a combined $989 million contracts with three major South Korean defense firms Hanwha, LIG Nex1, and Poongsan, to supply ammunition and other defense systems to the Kingdom. These include multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) such as the K239 Chunmoo, advanced artillery ammunition, and tactical missile systems, alongside initial agreements for local maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) transfer.
The Bottom Line: The Saudi-South Korean naval talks in Riyadh represent the growing depth of their multifaceted strategic defense partnership. Riyadh’s push to diversify its defense partners and achieve national sovereignty goals, coupled with Seoul’s pursuit of a robust Middle Eastern market to scale its defense exports globally, is set to shape the future of regional security and domestic military industrialization for the next decade.
