South Korea and Egypt agreed to upgrade their relationship to a strategic partnership and begin negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Presidents Lee Jae-myung and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced the decisions after their October 8, 2026 summit at Seoul's Blue House.
The move follows their agreement to pursue a CEPA during Lee's visit to Egypt in November 2025. The proposed arrangement would extend beyond goods and services to investment and other forms of economic cooperation.
Lee called for a swift conclusion to negotiations, highlighting Egypt's role as a trading partner connecting the Middle East and Africa. He also pointed to the South Korean companies already operating there.
The two countries signed or revised 12 cooperation documents covering areas including clean energy, power infrastructure and information technology. A shipbuilding memorandum will support further industrial collaboration. The leaders also discussed joint production of K-9 self-propelled howitzers.
Regional security formed another part of the talks. Both presidents supported efforts to restore peace in the Middle East and safeguard maritime trade. El-Sisi's state visit was his first to South Korea in ten years.