Abu Dhabi: South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will engage in combined military drills in February to strengthen their defense cooperation, Seoul’s defense ministry announced on Monday. Service members from the South Korean Army, Navy, and Marine Corps have already departed from Jinhae, a naval base located 312 kilometers southeast of Seoul, to participate in the exercises scheduled for February 10-20.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the exercise will be held at Al Hamra Training Center and in the waters off Abu Dhabi, featuring a 4,900-ton South Korean warship and 14 pieces of equipment, including the K2 tank and K9 self-propelled howitzer. The drills were organized at the request of Abu Dhabi, aiming to enhance military capabilities for joint operations and to support South Korean arms exports.

Additionally, South Korea plans to showcase its domestic weapons systems and engage in military exchange activities during the training. Discussions with high-level officials on expanding defense cooperation are also on the agenda. The defense ministry views these exercises as a continuation of efforts to build stronger ties with Middle Eastern countries, following last year’s drills in Qatar involving the K2 and K9 systems.