South Korea and Australia pledge tighter energy and defence cooperation at UN summit

At the United Nations General Assembly in New York, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to reaffirm their partnership on energy and security. The leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations, regional energy supply chains, defence cooperation and the broader international security environment. They emphasized mutual dependence on LNG and petroleum supplies and committed to creating stable, resilient regional supply networks in response to the Middle-East conflict.

Albanese described South Korea as a reliable partner in critical minerals and clean-energy sectors, noting the potential of combining Australian resources with Korean manufacturing. Lee welcomed the cooperation, citing Australia’s assistance in stabilising South Korea’s energy market during recent disruptions, and signalled plans for a state visit in the first half of next year. Both sides pledged continued dialogue and joint projects across multiple sectors.