Ahn Gyu-back’s First Trip Abroad: A $6.5 Billion Tank Deal with Poland

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back will travel to Poland this week to attend a signing ceremony for an export deal for additional K2 battle tanks and hold talks with his Polish counterpart on expanding defense cooperation, the ministry announced Wednesday.

Ahn is set to depart for the European nation on Thursday for a three-day visit, according to the South Korean defense ministry. This marks his first overseas trip since taking the helm as defense chief in the Lee Jae Myung administration.

The visit, arranged at Poland’s request, comes after confirmation from South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration that Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and Hyundai Rotem Co., the manufacturer of the K2 tanks, have finalized negotiations on the export deal.

This follow-up K2 tank agreement is the largest single arms export contract to date for South Korea. The defense ministry stated that it will serve as a catalyst to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation between the two nations, building on their existing partnership.

The $6.5 billion (approximately 8.67 trillion KRW) deal comes on the heels of a series of agreements Poland inked in 2022 with South Korean defense firms. These earlier contracts included the acquisition of K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, and FA-50 light attack aircraft, reflecting Poland’s increased defense spending in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

During his visit, Minister Ahn will also hold bilateral talks with Kosiniak-Kamysz. The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening defense and arms industry cooperation, as well as collaboration for maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the broader region.