High geostrategic stakes as South Korea pursues mega submarine deal with Canada

Crew members of South Korean Navy's Shin Chae-ho, KSS-III Dosan Ahn Changho class submarine, in the waters off Busan, on Sept 26, 2025. - Reuters

SEOUL: South Korea is going full throttle in a bid to win Canada’s Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) valued at US$44 billion, and a deal against the odds would propel it up the league of the world’s top arms exporters.

Canada’s procurement of 12 submarines – including lifetime maintenance and support – is viewed as one of the largest defence deals in recent history, in terms of the scale of the one-time purchase and the corresponding life-cycle maintenance cost.