India, South Korea Mark 10 Years of Strategic Partnership with Renewed Push in Trade, Tech and Defence

New Delhi Aug 2025 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Saturday held wide-ranging discussions with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, focusing on expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, manufacturing, maritime security, clean energy, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and defence. The meeting came as India and South Korea mark the 10th anniversary of their “special strategic partnership.”

Sharing details of the talks in a post on X, Jaishankar said he was “delighted” to meet his South Korean counterpart, describing the dialogue as “productive” and underscoring the shared vision of strengthening ties across traditional and emerging sectors. He noted that both leaders also exchanged views on the Indo-Pacific region and other pressing global developments.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Jaishankar greeted Cho Hyun as an “old friend in a new role” and congratulated him on his recent appointment as Foreign Minister. He described the visit, which coincides closely with the National Days of both countries, as “a testimony to how much we value this relationship.” He also extended greetings to South Korea on its National Liberation Day.

Highlighting the occasion, Jaishankar said the visit was particularly significant as it commemorates a decade of the special strategic partnership. He recalled past high-level exchanges, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with President Lee Jae-myung in Canada, which reinforced the strong foundation of ties.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, making his first official visit to India since taking office less than a month ago, called it a “great pleasure” to be in New Delhi at such an important moment. Expressing solidarity, he offered condolences on the loss of lives in the recent flash floods in Kashmir, conveying the sympathies of the Korean people.

Cho Hyun reaffirmed that President Lee Jae-myung is personally committed to deepening relations with India. He said the Korean President had asked him to convey warm wishes to Prime Minister Modi and emphasized that cooperation in key sectors like technology, defence, and economic development would remain a priority.

Cho Hyun arrived in New Delhi on Friday evening, marking his first overseas visit since assuming charge. The discussions between the two sides underscored the growing importance of India-Korea relations as both countries look to build stronger partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Team Maverick.