Lee Completes Mutual State Visits with France in Just 5 Months...Expands Cooperation in AI, Nuclear Power, and Defense

President Lee Concludes France Visit
Samsung and Mistral to Develop ‘Dedicated AI’
KHNP Secures French Enrichment Supply Chain
Revision of Military Information Agreement, Pushing for Mutual Logistics Support
France Supports Korea's 2028 G20 Presidency
Consensus on ‘Substantive Contribution’ in Hormuz
Troop Deployment “Under Review... No Decision Made”

President Lee Jae-myung, currently on a state visit to France, established a new framework for comprehensive cooperation with President Emmanuel Macron, covering areas from security to artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, quantum technology, and nuclear power. Just five months after President Macron’s visit to Korea in April, both nations have completed reciprocal state visits. They have strengthened the institutional basis for military information exchange as well as expanded the achievements of summit diplomacy to the corporate sector, such as Samsung Electronics' collaboration with Mistral AI and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's partnership with Orano on nuclear fuel supply chains.

President Lee Jae-myung and French President Emmanuel Macron are greeting each other after a joint press conference at the Élysée Palace in Paris on the 8th (local time). 2026.9.8 Yonhap News Agency.

On September 8 (local time), President Lee held a one-on-one luncheon with President Macron for about two hours at the Élysée Palace in Paris, followed by an expanded summit meeting. In the presence of both leaders, eight agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were exchanged across fields such as defense, aerospace, AI, semiconductors, quantum technology, nuclear power, industrial competitiveness, intellectual property, space, and culture. Additionally, Samsung Electronics and Mistral AI signed a separate investment agreement.

This meeting centered on expanding substantive cooperation following the upgrade of bilateral relations to a “Global Strategic Partnership” in April. During the joint press conference, President Macron emphasized that such cooperation would enhance each country’s "strategic autonomy." This means reducing reliance on specific major powers while broadening independent areas of cooperation based on shared values such as democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Samsung and Mistral’s ‘Dedicated AI’... Diversifying Nuclear Enrichment Supply Chains

The most tangible results came from advanced industries. Samsung Electronics and French generative AI company Mistral AI signed a strategic investment agreement to develop a “Samsung Electronics Dedicated AI Model” that protects Samsung’s semiconductor expertise. This model combines Samsung’s semiconductor and manufacturing capabilities with the technological strength of Europe’s leading AI company.

Intergovernmental MOUs in the fields of AI, semiconductors, and quantum technology also gave concrete form to the intention of cooperation previously outlined in April. The main focus is on expanding mutual market access for AI startups from both countries and promoting joint R&D by companies and research institutions. There is also an initiative to create a collaborative model that combines France’s quantum foundational technologies with Korea’s semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and AI infrastructure.

In the nuclear sector, Korea and France, once ‘competitors’, have expanded areas of cooperation centered on supply chains and technology. The two countries agreed to launch a high-level civil nuclear dialogue as proposed by President Macron in April. Building on the bilateral Nuclear Joint Coordination Committee established in 1982, both sides will now have a high-level cooperation channel at the private sector level as well.

Notably, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and French nuclear company Orano signed a letter of intent for a long-term enriched uranium supply partnership. As a result, KHNP will secure a new source of uranium enrichment from Western countries, laying the foundation for diversifying its nuclear fuel supply chain. The two countries also agreed to explore cooperation not only in next-generation nuclear reactor safety technologies but also in areas such as spent nuclear fuel and waste management at the back end of the nuclear cycle.

President Macron also expressed his intention to expand cooperation in rare earths and critical minerals. In the context of intensifying global supply chain fragmentation, this marks the shift in Korea-France economic cooperation from simple trade toward stabilizing supply chains in critical technologies and strategic goods.

Stronger Military Information Protection... Further Negotiations on Mutual Logistics Support Agreement

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Catherine Vautrin, French Minister of Defense, exchanged the revised protocol of the military secret information protection agreement on the 8th (local time) at the Elysee Palace in Paris, attended by President Lee Jae-myung and French President Emmanuel Macron. 2026.9.9 Yonhap News Photo by Yonhap

In the defense and security fields, the two countries revised the Military Secret Information Protection Agreement initially signed in 2001. The revision reflects France’s new secret classification system and newly defines restricted access authorities for military secrets, thereby strengthening the protection framework for military information exchange between the two countries.

Both leaders agreed to swiftly conclude the ongoing negotiations on a bilateral Mutual Logistics Support Agreement. Once signed, this agreement will allow the armed forces of both countries to provide necessary supplies, services, and other support to each other more rapidly. However, National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac explained that “there has not been significant progress yet,” making it difficult to predict when the agreement will be finalized.

In the defense industry sector, both sides agreed to pursue complementary cooperation, combining France’s original technologies with Korea’s production and manufacturing capabilities. President Macron mentioned that the French Air Force’s "Pégase" mission will call at Korea, expressing the intention to expand information exchange and interoperability between the two militaries.

Expanded Cooperation on Hormuz..."Too Early to Call It Troop Deployment Talks"

Among international issues, the Strait of Hormuz was a key topic during the one-on-one luncheon between the two leaders. They exchanged views on freedom of navigation in the strait, regional stability, and the role of the international community.

President Lee concurred with the need for stability in the strait but maintained Korea’s existing position, saying, “We will seek ways to contribute based on our national interests and public consensus.” President Macron, referencing the multinational mission promoted jointly with the UK, indicated a willingness to cooperate should the appropriate conditions arise.

The Korean government, however, drew a clear line against interpreting this as discussions on troop deployment. A senior Blue House official stated, “It is not accurate to define the topic of today’s discussion as troop deployment,” clarifying that the focus was on “how to contribute to international solidarity for safety and navigation in the strait.” The official added that the dispatch of a defense ministry review team is only part of the ongoing review process and that “no decisions have been made.”

The government also denied interpretations that the revision of the military secret information protection agreement and the negotiations on the mutual logistics support agreement are measures premised on deployment to Hormuz. According to the Blue House, both issues are long-term matters that have been in progress since before the Hormuz crisis.

France Backs Korea’s 2028 G20 Presidency... Lee Attends BRT, Highlights Bilateral Corporate Cooperation

Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee and Kim Yongseon, Commissioner of the Korea Intellectual Property Office, attended the Korea-France agreement ceremony held at the Élysée Palace in Paris, France on the 8th (local time), with President Jae-myung Lee and French President Emmanuel Macron in attendance. 2026.9.8 Yonhap News Agency

Diplomatic and people-to-people exchanges have also broadened. President Macron announced support for Korea’s chairing of the Group of 20 (G20) in 2028. France also plans to join the International Vaccine Institute (IVI).

Through the revision of the aviation agreement, the two countries established cooperation bases such as fair competition provisions and codeshare arrangements between airlines, and also modernized standards for environment, safety, and security. Starting October 1, the age limit for the working holiday program will be raised, increasing opportunities for youth exchanges between the two countries. Cooperative initiatives in education and research are also being promoted, such as joint research in mathematics and physics between Paris-Saclay University and the Korea Institute for Advanced Study, and the dispatch of Korean language assistant teachers to France.

Immediately after the summit, both leaders attended a Business Round Table (BRT) with representatives from 20 companies from each country. The event aims to boost investment and joint projects by Korean and French companies in AI, quantum technology, energy, mobility, bio, and beauty fields. On the Korean side, major attendees included Ryu Jin, Chairman of the Korea Enterprises Federation, Jay Y. Lee, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, Koo Ja-eun, Chairman of LS, Cho Hyun-joon, Chairman of Hyosung, Ryu Jae-cheol, President of LG Electronics, Kim Sung, President of Hyundai Motor, Na Sang-seop, CEO of Hanwha TotalEnergies, Choi Soo-yeon, CEO of Naver, and Seo Jinseok, CEO of Celltrion. On the French side, leading attendees included François Jacob, Chair of the Korea-France Economic Cooperation Committee at MEDEF International, Jean Lemierre, Chairman of BNP Paribas, and Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO of L'Oréal.

President Lee highlighted, “If our two countries jointly pursue R&D and large-scale investments in emerging fields, we will be able to shorten development timelines and improve investment efficiency, compared to pursuing them separately.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.