Lee vows to deepen strategic partnership with India amid Mideast crisis | Yonhap News Agency

NEW DELHI, April 19 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung pledged on Sunday to deepen South Korea's strategic partnership with India to better navigate growing uncertainties in global supply chains and the economy stemming from the war in the Middle East.

Lee made the remarks during a meeting with Korean residents in India, ahead of his planned summit talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday.

"Amid ongoing instability in supply chains and the global economy triggered by the war in the Middle East, Korea and India are expected to become very important strategic partners for each other," he said.

Lee stressed the need to broaden bilateral cooperation, noting that both countries rely heavily on imported energy and raw materials, and expressed hope that his upcoming summit with Modi would serve as a turning point.

"India has evolved from a consumer market to a key country driving global production and supply chains, and it is expected to continue growing," Lee said, vowing to upgrade bilateral ties to a "completely different level" through closer collaboration.

South Korea and India established diplomatic relations in 1973 and elevated their ties to a "special strategic partnership" in 2015.

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a meeting with Korean residents in India held at a hotel in New Delhi on April 19, 2026. (Yonhap )

ejkim@yna.co.kr

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