- author : 국방부
- writing date : 2026.02.27
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Minister Ahn meets with Saudi National Guard Minister.
Discusses strengthening mutually beneficial defense and arms industry cooperation.
Also holds a meeting with SMEs participating in the defense exhibition.
Pledges government support, including overseas market expansion.
Visiting Saudi Arabia, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, third from left, meets with Abdullah bin Bandar Al Saud, third from right, Saudi Minister of National Guard, to discuss ways to strengthen defense cooperation on Feb. 9, local time.
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, continued efforts to expand defense and defense industry cooperation with Saudi and broaden the horizons of K-defense.
The Ministry of National Defense announced on February 10 that Minister Ahn Gyu-back exchanged views on ways to develop defense and defense industry cooperation between the two countries with Abdullah bin Bandar Al Saud, Saudi Minister of National Guard, on February 9 (local time).
Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) is tasked with protecting the royal family, safeguarding Islam’s holy sites, and defending oil fields. The Ministry of National Guard is known to operate approximately 130,000 troops, accounting for roughly 50% of Saudi Arabia's total military forces.
This marked the second meeting between the two ministers. Minister Ahn visited Saudi Arabia in September 2025 to highlight the superiority of Korean weapon systems and expand the horizons of K-defense. At that time, Minister Ahn met with Minister Abdullah bin Bandar Al Saud, explaining the superiority of K-defense and expressing the Defense Ministry’s willingness to cooperate.
At this meeting, Minister Ahn said that the bilateral partnership is on a more solid footing and suggested that going forward, mutually beneficial cooperation in the defense and defense industry sectors be developed based on deep trust and respect.
Minister Abdullah responded by saying, "We welcome the visit of Minister Ahn Gyu-back," and called for strengthening defense cooperation in diverse areas, including personnel exchange, military training, and medical services, while further expanding cooperation momentum in the defense sector.
Minister Ahn Gyu-back is speaking at a meeting with SME representatives participating in WDS 2026.
Minister Ahn then visited the exhibition booths of Korean firms at the World Defense Show (WDS) 2026 and met with defense SME representatives.
To elevate Korea to one of the world's top four defense industry powers, business officials requested active government support for expanding defense exports, assistance for SMEs to enter overseas markets, and institutional improvements for export promotion.
In this regard, the Defense Ministry pledged its best efforts, including strengthening government-level promotion of the K-defense, preparing national support measures to expand export markets for SMEs, and implementing prompt export permit procedures.
Minister Ahn emphasized, “As a result of steady efforts by our defense SMEs to accumulate technologies and enhance quality, Korean weapon systems are advancing across the world and rewriting the history of Korea’s defense industry. To ensure this performance leads to continuous growth, we will cultivate a defense industry ecosystem where both SMEs and large corporations prosper together and provide policy support that is felt on the ground.”
By Byeong-No, Yun <trylover@dema.mil.kr >
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