Trending Now - Macron and Lee Commit to Joint Efforts in Strait of Hormuz
WHO:
AP News - U.S. President Trump criticized allies for not supporting the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran during the summit.
AP News - French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
ABC News Business - French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
koreatimes.co.kr - President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron.
WHAT:
AP News - Macron and Lee signed agreements to cooperate on nuclear fuel supply chains and to jointly invest in an offshore wind project in southern South Korea.
koreatimes.co.kr - The leaders discussed a series of agreements covering economic security and future technologies, including trade and investment in artificial intelligence (AI), nuclear energy, and space.
koreatimes.co.kr - Lee stated, “We agreed to share policy experiences and strategies to jointly respond to the economic and energy crisis caused by the Middle East war and to work together to resolve international economic uncertainty.”
AP News - Macron stated, “We need to clearly define, at the international level, the conditions for a process to ease the crisis and conflict in the Middle East.”
AP News - Lee emphasized the need for cooperation in technology, energy, and other areas, stating, “We agreed to share policy experiences and strategies to jointly respond to the economic and energy crisis caused by the Middle East war.”
AP News - Macron and Lee agreed to work together to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
koreatimes.co.kr - The two leaders agreed to share policy experiences and strategies to respond to the economic and energy crisis caused by the Middle East war.
koreatimes.co.kr - They signed agreements covering economic security and future technologies, including nuclear fuel supply chains and joint investments in an offshore wind project.
WHERE:
AP News - The summit took place in Seoul, South Korea.
koreatimes.co.kr - The discussions were held at the presidential office in Seoul.
WHEN:
AP News - Macron's visit to South Korea was his first since taking office in 2017.
AP News - The summit occurred on Friday, March 29th, 2026.
koreatimes.co.kr - Macron's visit was the first by a French president in 11 years and coincided with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France.
WHY:
AP News - The cooperation aims to stabilize the situation in the Middle East, particularly regarding Iran's influence over the Strait of Hormuz.
AP News - The cooperation aims to ease global economic uncertainties caused by the war in the Middle East.
koreatimes.co.kr - The leaders signaled a joint response to the economic and energy fallout from the Middle East war.
HOW:
koreatimes.co.kr - The summit marked the third meeting between Macron and Lee, following earlier encounters on the sidelines of the G7 and G20 summits in 2025.
koreatimes.co.kr - Macron arrived in Korea on March 28th, 2026, for a two-day state visit, which included attending a state luncheon and a series of economic and cultural events before departing later on March 29th, 2026.
AP News - Macron described the summit as an opportunity to deepen the relationship between France and South Korea, emphasizing the need for closer coordination on global challenges.
AP News - Macron emphasized the need for France and South Korea to cooperate to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
koreatimes.co.kr - The leaders discussed upgrading bilateral ties to a “global strategic partnership” to enhance cooperation in advanced industries and shared responses to global challenges.
(UPDATED April 4, 2026 05:21 UTC)
On Tuesday, French President Macron and South Korean President Lee signed agreements to cooperate on nuclear fuel supply chains and to jointly invest in an offshore wind project in southern South Korea. The leaders also discussed economic security and future technologies, including trade and investment in artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, and space, with Lee emphasizing their commitment to share strategies to tackle the economic and energy crisis stemming from the Middle East war. This summit was the third meeting between Macron and Lee, following their earlier discussions at the G7 and G20 summits in 2025.
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(UPDATED April 4, 2026 01:20 UTC)
During a summit, President Trump criticized allies for not supporting the U.S. and Israeli efforts against Iran, while French President Macron highlighted the need for a clear international process to ease the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. Macron, on his first visit to South Korea since taking office in 2017, emphasized the importance of cooperation in technology and energy, stating that they agreed to share strategies to address the economic and energy challenges stemming from the conflict. He described the summit as a vital opportunity to strengthen the relationship between France and South Korea, underlining the necessity for closer coordination on global issues.
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(UPDATED April 3, 2026 23:06 UTC)
on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held a summit in Seoul, marking the first visit by a French president in 11 years and coinciding with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. During their discussions, the leaders agreed to collaborate on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and signed agreements focused on economic security, future technologies, and joint investments in renewable energy projects. Their cooperation aims to address the economic and energy crises stemming from the ongoing war in the Middle East, signaling a commitment to enhance their bilateral ties into a global strategic partnership.