During the visit, Maritime cooperation received a major boost. HD Hyundai and Cerberus Capital Management will launch a $5 billion programme to modernise US shipyards, strengthen supply chains, and introduce advanced automation and navigation technologies. Samsung Heavy Industries and Vigor Marine Group will collaborate on naval vessel maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) and the construction of US-flagged ships. Hanwha Ocean announced a $5 billion plan to upgrade Pennsylvania’s Philly Shipyard, increasing production capacity more than tenfold and strengthening the American maritime workforce, as per a White House fact sheet.
Korean Air announced plans to purchase 103 Boeing aircraft valued at $36.2 billion, supporting up to 135,000 jobs across the US. In a separate agreement worth $13.7 billion, the airline will acquire advanced GE Aerospace engines. The ROK Air Force awarded L3Harris Technologies a $2.3 billion contract to develop new Airborne Warning and Control aircraft, supporting over 6,000 American jobs. Additionally, America’s ReElement Technologies and POSCO International agreed to establish a US-based rare earth separation, refining, and magnet-production complex focused on high-value mobility magnets.
Under the energy partnership framework, the Korea Gas Corporation signed long-term agreements to purchase about 3.3 million tons of US LNG annually from sellers including Trafigura and TotalEnergies, which hold offtake agreements with US producers like Cheniere. Centrus Energy Corp, KHNP, and POSCO International will support the expansion of uranium enrichment capacity in Piketon, Ohio, generating 3,000 jobs. LS Group pledged to invest $3 billion by 2030 in US power-grid infrastructure—covering undersea cables, power equipment, and winding wires—while its subsidiary, LS Greenlink, is building a $681 million manufacturing facility in Virginia.
Highlighting bilateral technological cooperation, both nations will sign a Technology Prosperity Deal to expand collaboration in artificial intelligence, 6G, biotech, quantum innovation, and research security. Amazon committed $5 billion through 2031 to build Korea’s cloud infrastructure, complementing AWS’s $40 billion investments across 14 APEC economies during President Trump’s term. NASA’s Artemis II mission will carry a Korean satellite to measure space radiation, marking the first human lunar orbit since Apollo. Both sides also pledged to stabilise and diversify the critical-mineral supply chain through public–private partnerships.
President Trump said the visit reaffirmed the steadfast alliance between the United States and South Korea and demonstrated “American leadership in energy, technology, and defence—bringing jobs and prosperity back home.”
ALCHEMPro News Desk (KD)
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