Leaders of Korea, Italy agree to upgrade ties to ‘special strategic partnership,’ cooperate on energy security and supply chain stability

President Lee Jae Myung and Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Thursday in Rome agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a special strategic partnership and deepen cooperation in areas including AI, defense and space industries.

During their summit, Lee and Mattarella agreed to communicate and cooperate closely to further develop mutually beneficial trade and investment cooperation, and to jointly promote energy security and supply chain stability.

Mattarella welcomed Lee in an official ceremony at the Quirinal Palace in Rome. The two leaders reviewed the Italian honor guard before heading into a bilateral summit that was followed by a joint press briefing.

“Building on the trust and bonds we have forged over the years and our shared values, our two countries will open a new chapter of cooperation aimed at achieving shared prosperity,” Lee said during the joint press briefing as he recalled a history of 142 years of building mutual trust.

This marks the first state visit to Italy by a Korean head of state in 26 years. Late President Kim Dae-jung visited in 2000.

The two leaders agreed to upgrade relations from the existing "strategic partnership," expanding ties beyond trade and investment to include advanced industries and science and technology sectors such as renewable energy, biohealth and digital technology.

“The supply chain disruptions caused by the recent situation in the Middle East have underscored the critical need for close cooperation among partner countries,” Lee said. “Korea and Italy will continue to engage in close communication and cooperation to enhance energy security and supply chain stability.”

Korea and Italy support joint research projects in eight fields including AI, advanced biotechnology, space, maritime and aviation technologies and semiconductors and displays.

During Lee’s visit, the two sides will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation in advanced science and technology and ICT to advance bilateral partnership in national strategic technology sectors including AI, quantum industries, sixth-generation mobile communications and advanced biotechnology.

The two countries plan to broaden cultural exchanges by signing a film co-production agreement and an MOU between the National Museum of Korea and the Uffizi Galleries in Florence.

Lee explained to Mattarella his vision for peaceful coexistence and joint growth on the Korean Peninsula, and the two leaders further agreed to broaden cooperation on the international stage.

The two countries will sign an MOU on development cooperation to jointly support economic growth in Africa and the Indo-Pacific.

The two leaders adopted the 2026–2030 strategic action plan to implement and follow-up on cooperative measures.

The two sides will sign an MOU on promotion and cooperation in the fields of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro-enterprises and another MOU in the field of social and solidarity economy to support SMEs and small business owners.

The two countries share many commonalities, such as geographical conditions connecting ocean and continent, an export economy centered on high-value-added manufacturing and a soft-power appeal based on culture. Italy is also Korea's top four trading partners within the EU, the Blue House said in a statement.

The two sides also agreed to expand people-to-people exchanges based on mutual goodwill and the long history and cultural heritage of both countries.

Later Thursday, Mattarella hosted a state dinner banquet attended by President Lee and business leaders and other dignitaries from both countries.  

President Lee will attend a Korea-Italy business roundtable Friday to further explore new avenues for growth in the fields of semiconductors, AI, the defense industry, aerospace, energy and biohealth. The roundtable will also be attended by business leaders including Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon.

President Lee strongly requested favorable consideration for Korea regarding European Union tariffs, Kim Yong-beom, presidential chief of staff for policy, said in Rome Thursday.

The EU is set to implement a new steel tariff rate quota (TRQ) system, which is stronger than the current steel safeguard system, starting July 1.

“During the meeting, President Lee strongly requested favorable consideration for Korea, a strategic partner and an FTA signatory, regarding the issue of securing a TRQ for iron ore,” Kim said in a press briefing. 

In Brussels on Wednesday, Lee met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa and agreed to broaden the Korea-EU strategic partnership across security and economic sectors.

“The competitiveness of Korea’s key industries, such as automobiles, shipbuilding, and construction, is underpinned by our steel industry,” Kim said. “If the steel industry falters, it is bound to have a chain reaction of effects.”

Under the new EU system, designed to protect the European steel industry, tariffs on 30 steel products will be raised from the current 25 percent to 50 percent. The quota for the EU's tariff-free steel imports will be reduced by some 46 percent, from the current 33.82 million tons to 18.35 million tons.

Kim said that the Korean government has been making “an all-out effort to ensure fair treatment as a signatory of an FTA with the EU.” He noted that intensive negotiations regarding quota volumes have taken place between Korean and EU trade officials and significant progress has been made.

“Under these circumstances, President Lee explained the importance of the steel issue to bilateral relations during the EU summit and requested the utmost consideration to ensure Korean companies do not suffer any disadvantages,” Kim said. “The EU side responded that it would give full consideration, given that Korea is a country that shares common values and is a strategically important partner.”

Lee further urged that measures be taken to ensure Korean companies do not suffer disadvantages from the EU’s Industrial Accelerator Act, aiming to boost EU-made, low-carbon steel, cement, clean technologies and electric vehicles, and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a carbon tariff.

Lee, as part of his first European tour since taking office one year ago, held a summit with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and also paid a courtesy call on King Philippe of Belgium on Wednesday.

Later Wednesday, Lee and first lady Kim Hea Kyung arrived in Italy, the second leg of their 10-day trip to Europe which will also take them to France for the Group of 7 (G7) summit in Evian. Lee was invited for a second consecutive year as a leader of a G7 partner nation.

The presidential jet was escorted by two Italian fighter jets upon entering Italy's airspace.

Lee is scheduled to hold talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday.

On Sunday, Lee is scheduled to attend Mass at St. Peter's Basilica and meet with Pope Leo XIV on Monday, before concluding his Italy trip Tuesday.