Seoul, South Korea – UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has delayed his planned state visit to South Korea on the invitation South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, which was scheduled for later this month, citing “unforeseen regional circumstances,” the presidential office said Thursday.
The delay in the visit comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East following a surprise attack by the Hamas militant group on Israel. This attack prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare a state of war.
UAE President’s visit to South Korea would have marked a historic occasion as the first state visit to Seoul by a UAE president.
Earlier this year, President Yoon made a state visit to the UAE, where discussions were held on further expanding the special strategic partnership between the two nations. The areas of cooperation discussed encompassed nuclear power, energy, investment, defense, as well as new sectors like healthcare and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
The UAE and South Korea established diplomatic relations in 1980 and elevated their relationship to a special strategic partnership in 2018.
During President Yoon’s visit to the UAE in January, the UAE announced a commitment from its sovereign wealth funds to invest $30 billion in strategic sectors of South Korea, including nuclear power, arms, and energy.
Despite the postponement of the visit, South Korean officials have assured that the UAE’s $30 billion investment commitment will continue as planned. This investment agreement underlines the strong economic cooperation and partnership between the two countries.
The Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE, constructed by Korean companies, stands as a symbol of this economic collaboration and is the first nuclear plant built abroad by South Korea.