Kenya has joined defence and security leaders from 67 countries at the 2026 Seoul Defence Dialogue, as nations explore new approaches to international security cooperation amid increasingly complex global threats.
Principal Secretary for Defence Patrick Mariru represented Kenya at the high-level forum in Seoul, which brought together about 1,000 participants under the theme “Toward a New Coexistence in the Age of Turbulence.”
The discussions focused on strengthening partnerships, developing joint capabilities and improving collective responses to emerging security challenges.
Kenya backs stronger security partnerships
The forum comes at a time when countries are expanding security cooperation beyond traditional military alliances to include technology, economic security, crisis management, maritime security, resilience and counter-terrorism.
Mariru said Kenya’s participation provided an opportunity to engage with international partners on emerging threats and explore approaches that can strengthen global peace and stability.
“This year’s SDD brings together approximately 1,000 participants from 67 countries, with Kenya among the participating nations, providing an important platform for strategic dialogue on emerging security challenges, strengthening partnerships and advancing collective approaches to global peace and stability,” Mariru said.
He said predictable roles and shared capabilities would be important in building a more resilient international security architecture.
Seoul pushes networked defence model
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung opened the dialogue by calling for stronger international cooperation as countries confront increasingly complicated security challenges.
South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook also reaffirmed Seoul’s commitment to using the country’s manufacturing and defence capabilities to support global peace and security, while highlighting the importance of humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
Mariru participated in a plenary session on the “Evolution of Alliances and Partnerships,” which examined how countries can develop a more connected and resilient global security system.
The session brought together South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back, Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna, and Philippines Defence Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr.
Participants argued that future security cooperation should not be restricted to choosing between bilateral, minilateral or multilateral arrangements.
Instead, they advocated for a networked model where different forms of partnerships complement one another and enable countries to respond more effectively to shared threats.
Technology and intelligence take centre stage
Joint development and production of defence capabilities emerged as key components of the proposed security model.
Participants highlighted technology sharing, co-development and co-production of defence technologies, as well as institutionalised burden-sharing among partners.
Intelligence-sharing, joint military exercises and interoperability were also identified as increasingly important to collective security.
The discussions further examined the importance of reliable logistics and resilient defence supply chains as countries seek to reduce vulnerabilities in critical security infrastructure.
For Kenya, the discussions provide an opportunity to strengthen defence relationships and explore partnerships in areas beyond conventional military cooperation.
Security cooperation expands beyond defence
The dialogue also underscored the need for defence partnerships to contribute to broader global challenges.
Humanitarian assistance, disaster response, maritime security and counter-terrorism were among the areas identified as important components of modern security cooperation.
The discussions come as countries face threats that increasingly cut across traditional security boundaries, including terrorism, cyber threats, technological competition, supply-chain disruptions and humanitarian crises.
The 2026 Seoul Defence Dialogue is therefore seeking to advance an inclusive security architecture capable of responding to these interconnected challenges while supporting international law and global peace.
