South Korean President Lee's NATO trip and submarine contract loss spark criticism

South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung travelled to Turkey for a NATO summit and then to Mongolia for a state visit. During the trip, the ruling party faced sharp criticism from the opposition People Power Party over the failure to win Canada’s next‑generation submarine contract (CPSP), a deal valued at about 60 trillion won. Opposition leaders said the government was emphasizing symbolic meaning rather than analysing why the bid was rejected, pointing to NATO alliance dynamics and urging a more precise diplomatic‑industrial strategy. Lee responded on social media that setbacks are part of the challenge and that the experience will help further improve South Korea’s submarine technology. Meanwhile, Canada announced German shipbuilder TKMS as the preferred negotiator for the CPSP, keeping Hanwha Ocean as a backup supplier. Lee also used the NATO forum to promote South Korea’s defence exports and to seek new partnerships across NATO members.