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President Lee Jae Myung's recent state visits to India and Vietnam underscored South Korea's strategic efforts to bolster energy security and enhance supply chain resilience amidst rising global uncertainties, particularly due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee concluded his six-day trip on Friday after participating in summits with leaders of India and Vietnam. These meetings aimed to deepen economic and strategic cooperation with two of Asia's rapidly growing economies, which are pivotal to Seoul's strategy of diversifying supply chains and securing critical minerals necessary for its manufacturing sector.

The backdrop of Lee's trip is the ongoing war between the United States and Iran, now in its eighth week, which has caused disruptions in energy flows and intensified fears concerning critical chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for South Korea's crude oil and industrial f eedstock imports.

In New Delhi, Lee met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where they agreed to enhance economic collaboration in critical areas such as minerals, energy, artificial intelligence (AI), finance, and shipbuilding. "In light of recent developments in the Middle East, we will continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation to ensure a stable supply of energy resources and key raw materials," Lee remarked following the summit.

Both nations committed to expediting negotiations to upgrade their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which they anticipate will double bilateral trade from the current $25 billion to $50 billion by 2030. During the Lee-Modi summit, fifteen memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were signed to broaden cooperation with India, the world's fourth-largest economy with a population nearing 1.5 billion.

Lee particularly emphasized collaboration in the shipbuilding industry, marked by an agreement to establish a joint shipyard construction in India.

In Hanoi, Lee conducted summit talks with Vietnam's top leader, To Lam, marking the first foreign visit to Vietnam since Lam's recent election as state president, thereby consolidating his dual leadership roles. The discussions between Lee and Lam focused on enhancing economic ties in energy, infrastructure, technology, and supply chain coordination to mitigate the effects of ongoing Middle Eastern tensions.

Vietnam has become an essential manufacturing hub for South Korean companies and a strategic partner in shifting production away from China. This week, Seoul and Hanoi reiterated their commitment to expanding bilateral trade to $150 billion by 2030, up from $94.6 billion in the previous year. Twelve MOUs were signed during the summit, covering sectors like energy, infrastructure, AI, and transportation.

Nuclear energy has surfaced as a potential new collaboration area, with Vietnam seeking a dependable partner fo r its nuclear power revival plans, paused since 2016 due to financial limitations. To advance this initiative, the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and Vietnam National Industry-Energy Group signed two MOUs related to joint feasibility studies and financing possibilities for nuclear power projects.

On Thursday, Lee also met separately with Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to discuss advancement strategies for bilateral ties.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac noted that Lee's tour laid the foundation for more profound economic cooperation with key partners, leveraging their robust growth potential and expanding Seoul's engagement with the Global South.