SEOUL, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - South Korea and Italy agreed Monday to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence, space and the defence industry, pledging to confront "global challenges" at a bilateral summit in Seoul. President Lee Jae Myung hosted Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for the summit at his office in the first visit by an Italian leader to South Korea in almost two decades. "In addition, we will pursue complementary cooperation in the defence industry based on each side's strengths," Lee added. But it has not supplied weapons to Ukraine due to a domestic policy preventing the provision of arms to countries at war. "The war in Ukraine also poses an extremely serious risk to Europe's security in every respect," Meloni said.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha January 19, 2026 07:13 UTC