Lieutenant General Ibrahim Nasser Al-Alawi, the UAE Defense Undersecretary, has conducted an official visit to Sacheon Air Base in the Republic of Korea, highlighting the deepening military cooperation between the two nations.
During the visit, the UAE Defense Undersecretary toured the prototype of the KF-21 aircraft and participated in a joint flight aboard an FA-50 fighter jet alongside General Lee Young- Soo, Chief of Staff of the Korean Air Force.
The activity was part of a demonstration showcasing the national capabilities of domestically manufactured Korean aircraft.
The visit forms part of Lieutenant General Al-Alawi’s official visit to the Republic of Korea, undertaken as a member of a high-level Emirati delegation.
The program features a series of high-level meetings and engagements designed to enhance defense cooperation and promote the exchange of expertise in areas of mutual strategic interest.
The defense relationship between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and South Korea has evolved into a robust and strategic partnership over the past two decades. It began with a foundational defense agreement in 2006. It was significantly strengthened in 2011 with the deployment of South Korea’s Akh Unit to Al Ain, tasked with training Emirati forces and providing security for Korean nationals.
The visit of the UAE Defense Undersecretary comes just months after the May 2024 state visit by UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed to Seoul, where the two countries signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that included clauses favoring defense exports and industrial cooperation. The August 2025 trip marks the implementation phase of that agreement, bringing high-level commitments into operational focus.
Earlier during the visit, Al-Alawi also met with Ahn Gyu-back, Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Korea.
