Poland: Poland has inked a US$6.5 billion agreement to procure a second batch of K2 tanks from Hyundai Rotem Co., a leading South Korean defense contractor, as reported by Seoul's defense ministry. The contract, which is the largest arms export deal ever secured by a South Korean company, marks a significant milestone for the Lee Jae Myung administration, which came into power in June.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the deal entails the supply of 180 K2 tanks and 81 additional support vehicles to Poland. This agreement follows a previous contract signed in 2022 for an initial batch of 180 K2 tanks, amid Poland's drive to bolster its defense capabilities following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Of the 180 tanks, 117 are to be manufactured by Hyundai Rotem, while the remaining units will be produced by Poland's state-owned defense firm, PGZ.

The agreement also includes the development of a Polish variant of the K2 tank and other armored support vehicles, with provisions for potential joint production and export opportunities. South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz were present at the signing ceremony held in Gliwice, southern Poland. Ahn emphasized the deal's role in strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations beyond a mere supplier-user relationship.

Prior to the ceremony, Ahn and Kosiniak-Kamysz engaged in discussions to explore further collaboration in the defense sector. Ahn expressed South Korea's commitment to supporting and training Poland in the use of Korean weaponry, including the K2 tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers, while also proposing cooperation on Poland's other defense initiatives, such as its submarine acquisition plans.

Ahn extended an invitation to Kosiniak-Kamysz to visit Seoul, which the Polish minister accepted, expressing his intent to visit at an early date.