Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary-general of NATO, urged South Korea to send direct military aid to Ukraine, arguing that Kyiv urgently needs weaponry in its raging war against Russia, according to a report by AP on Monday, Jan. 30.
South Korea is a prominent arms exporter with a well-resourced military supported by the US. It has supported Ukraine in various ways, such as embracing economic sanctions against Russia, which were all led by the US.
However, due to its policy of not sending weapons to nations in active combat, it has not directly delivered weapons to Ukraine.
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JANUARY 29: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) shakes hands with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin during their meeting at the Foreign Ministry on January 29, 2023 in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea has strengthened its partnership with NATO by establishing its diplomatic mission to NATO last November. Park discussed South Korea's plans to enter into a new partnership agreement with the organization and open a mission to NATO in Belgium.
Increase Military Support
Stoltenberg encouraged South Korea to increase its military support while speaking at a forum in Seoul, arguing that if other nations such as Sweden, Norway, and Germany could modify their policies, South Korea could do it too.
On Monday, Jan. 30, Stoltenberg also had a meeting with Yoon Suk Yeol, the president of South Korea. They talked about how the country will stand behind Ukraine and how NATO can help prevent North Korea from developing its nuclear weapons further.
South Korea may not be directly sending weapons to Ukraine, but it still had a significant role in supporting the war-torn nation. According to AP, the Asian country has received billions of dollars worth of deals to give NATO member Poland tanks, fighter jets, and other weapons.
At the same time, an American authority told the AP that the US had made deals with South Korea to buy 100,000 artillery rounds from them to support Ukraine. However, South Korean officials said that these weapons were made to supply the US military.
Fast-Track Talks
On Saturday, Jan. 28, a top Ukrainian presidential aide said that the nation and its allies are having fast-track talks about supplying Kyiv with long-range missiles and other weapon systems.
This comes after the US decided to send its M1 Abrams tanks despite concerns that they would be too challenging to manage. The Biden administration is set to send 31 of these vehicles to Ukraine.
The US move also encouraged German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to send Ukraine 14 Leopard 2 tanks. His move also allowed other European countries with tanks to send theirs, even though he was initially against taking a unilateral move that could exacerbate the conflict.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine has had the support of its Western allies. Its access to Western weapons was especially important for bolstering Kyiv's armed forces.
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