Ottawa: Top South Korean officials on Wednesday emphasized the country's technologies and abilities to deliver submarines "on time" and "on budget," while Canadian counterparts pledged a "fair" process for its next-generation submarine procurement project.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back were joined by Canadian counterparts Anita Anand and David McGuinty for a "two-plus-two" meeting in Ottawa. This comes as Seoul intensifies its efforts to secure the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, estimated at around 60 trillion won (US$41 billion). Canada is seeking to procure up to 12 submarines for patrol missions, with a South Korean consortium and Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems competing for the contract.
"We will deliver on time and within the budget," Cho stated during a joint press conference. He highlighted South Korea's ability to deliver two years ahead of Germany and the potential benefits for Canada, including creating 200,000 jobs over 15 years. Cho also noted the technological advances that South Korea has achieved in producing submarines suited for challenging underwater conditions, particularly in response to North Korean threats.
Defense Minister Ahn highlighted South Korea's cutting-edge technologies, emphasizing their price, force employment, and interoperability. He expressed confidence that South Korea's conventional submarines could operate effectively in the Arctic region, where Canada plans to deploy them.
David McGuinty, portraying the submarine project as potentially Canada's "largest" defense procurement initiative, emphasized Ottawa's "professionalized" procurement system. He stressed the objective and arm's length nature of the process, noting a new agency responsible for exclusive negotiations.
Cho underscored the importance of strengthening security collaboration amid "geopolitical uncertainties." He expressed the need for Korea and Canada to engage in strategic communications and deepen defense and security cooperation.
The meeting yielded three main security outcomes: an updated South Korea-Canada comprehensive strategic partnership, negotiations toward a defense cooperation agreement, and an agreement on the protection of military and defense classified information. This agreement will establish a secure framework for exchanging sensitive information between the two countries.
Anita Anand stated, "Canada and the Republic of Korea will continue to work together and promote regional stability, reinforcing a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific region."