South Korean President Lee Jae-myung wrapped up an eight-day visit to European countries on June 17, touching down in Belgium, Italy, and the Vatican before arriving at the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Évian-les-Bains, France. His trip was described as an effort to put Seoul’s European diplomacy into full swing, according to the Blue House.
Lee met European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on June 10 for the 11th summit between the EU and South Korea. Lee became the first South Korean president to visit Brussels and meet EU leaders in eight years. The leaders signed a new Digital Trade Agreement at a ceremony in Brussels.
During the meeting, the leaders endorsed the establishment of a High-Level Economic Dialogue and a competitiveness partnership to enhance economic resilience. A joint statement condemned support by third parties – in particular North Korea – for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and called on Moscow and Pyongyang to immediately cease all such activities and abide by the United Nations Charter. They also called for de-escalation and restraint in the Strait of Hormuz, urging dialogue and diplomacy over armed conflict to resolve tensions stemming from the war in the Middle East.
