South Korean President Lee Jae Myung heads to NATO summit in Turkey

President Lee Jae Myung departed Seoul on July 7, 2026, on a two‑nation trip that begins with attendance at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. Invited by NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte, Lee will meet the NATO chief and the leaders of the alliance’s 32 member states, including U.S. President Donald Trump. He is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at a defence‑industry forum titled “Shared Values, Stronger Industrial Base,” promoting Korea’s defence sector and seeking entry into the alliance’s biggest arms market.

Following the summit, Lee will travel to Mongolia for a state visit – the first by a South Korean president in 15 years. He will hold talks with President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, declare a “golden era” of bilateral relations, and attend a business forum and the opening ceremony of the Naadam Festival. The itinerary underscores South Korea’s aim to expand security cooperation with NATO’s Indo‑Pacific Four (Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Korea) and deepen economic ties with Mongolia.