In a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul in Warsaw, Duda "expressed his hope for swift progress" in finalizing the second-phrase purchase deal of K2 battle tanks to facilitate local production, the Foreign Ministry here said in a press release, quoting his as saying.
Speaking later at a joint press conference with Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels, Duda cited swift delivery as a crucial factor in Poland's decision to purchase South Korean weapons, praising South Korea for completing deliveries within a year, unlike other European countries which typically take several years to deliver weapons.
Poland signed massive arms deals worth US$44 billion with South Korea in 2022, involving the purchase of battle tanks, jet trainers, and howitzers. The first phase of deliveries has been completed, with negotiations ongoing for the remaining shipments.
Poland allocated nearly five percent of its GDP to defense last year, the highest among NATO countries, with spending set to increase further this year, suggesting strong potential for expanded defense cooperation between Warsaw and Seoul.
Cho is currently visiting several European countries including France, Germany, and Poland to foster enhanced cooperation.
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