Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Jaromír Zůna Represented Czechia at Seoul Defense Dialogue 2026 and Promoted Cooperation between Defence Companies
06.10.2026 / 09:41 | Aktualizováno: 06.10.2026 / 09:48
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Jaromír Zůna travelled to Seoul in the second week of September to participate in the Seoul Defense Dialogue 2026. At the conference, he took part in a panel discussion on challenges threatening international stability, held bilateral talks with his Korean counterpart, Gyu-back Ahn, and also met with representatives of Korean defence companies to explore new opportunities for Czech businesses.
South Korea is one of NATO’s four Indo-Pacific partners under the IP4 format, which serves to deepen political and practical cooperation between the North Atlantic Alliance and democratic countries in the Indo-Pacific region. During a panel discussion on maintaining international stability, Minister Zůna spoke about the deteriorating global strategic environment, the importance of international organisations, and the need to deepen cooperation among like-minded countries. According to the minister, Czechia is actively reaching out to partners in the Indo-Pacific and seeking opportunities to establish a presence in the region and support it. He sees potential for expanding practical cooperation, for example, through participation in military exercises, the exchange of experience in cyber defence, and strengthening resilience in line with NATO partnerships and EU security initiatives. “Only through strong multilateral cooperation can we effectively protect stability and address new challenges,” he said.
During their bilateral meeting, Ministers Zůna and Ahn agreed that their two ministries would intensify their dialogue and military cooperation. The two partners also supported cooperation between Czech and Korean defence industry companies. Minister Zůna introduced his counterpart to Czech companies seeking opportunities to expand their presence in East Asia.
Meetings with Korean companies SNT Motiv, LIG Defense & Aerospace, Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Aerospace focused on opportunities for further developing industrial cooperation. SNT Motiv and Colt CZ are seeking to rearm the Korean armed forces, and the two companies are already cooperating on technology transfer and the production of components for P10 pistols, which could be manufactured under licence in Korea. Tatra is also well established in Korea, with its platforms being used by LIG and Hanwha to mount air-defence systems and other equipment. Last year, another Czech company, BRM Aero from Kunovice, signed a contract for twenty Bristell aircraft, which are expected to be delivered next year.
Jakub Kopecký, Economic Diplomat, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Seoul
SDD 2026
SDD 2026