Ankara: President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday departed Ankara where he attended the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, en route to Mongolia where he will pay a state visit and hold a bilateral summit with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh. According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee's departure marked the end of his two-day visit to the Turkish capital, where he engaged in a series of bilateral meetings with NATO leaders, including Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. These discussions aimed to strengthen ties and cooperation among the allied nations. In a significant meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, President Lee agreed to initiate negotiations for a basic procurement agreement with the alliance. This agreement, once reached, could provide a vital framework for South Korean companies to enter NATO's joint defense procurement market, valued at approximately 15 trillion won (US$9.9 billion) annually. During the NATO summit's def ense industry forum, Lee delivered a keynote speech proposing joint defense research, procurement, and operation programs with the alliance. This proposal highlights South Korea's intent to deepen its collaboration with NATO in the defense sector. President Lee is expected to arrive in Ulaanbaatar on Thursday, marking the first state visit by a South Korean president to Mongolia in 15 years. The visit includes a summit with the Mongolian president and participation in a business forum designed to explore new opportunities for cooperation between the two nations.