Johannesburg: South Korea's strategic value in the international community remains unchanged even under the current acting presidency amid ongoing political uncertainties sparked by President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, Foreign Minister Cho tae-yul said. Cho made the remarks in an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Johannesburg on Saturday after attending a gathering of foreign ministers of the Group of 20 (G20) nations there.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho emphasized that South Korea maintains its strategic importance on the global stage. He highlighted his interactions with several U.S. lawmakers specializing in foreign affairs during his visit to Munich earlier this month. These included Sen. James Risch (R-ID), head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), ranking member of the committee, and Brian Mast (R-FL), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The meetings, which were reportedly held at the request of the U.S. side, aimed to reaffirm South Korea's enduring global role.
Cho also attended a South Korea-U.S. foreign ministerial meeting and a South Korea-U.S.-Japan foreign ministerial meeting in Germany, achieving results beyond expectations. He highlighted the importance of South Korea strengthening ties with other middle power countries, especially in light of global uncertainties following the launch of the second Donald Trump administration. He mentioned countries like the Netherlands, Australia, and Canada as essential partners in this endeavor.
During the two-day G20 foreign ministerial gathering in Johannesburg, which began on Thursday, Cho engaged in talks with his counterparts from Australia, Britain, Spain, the European Union, the Netherlands, Algeria, and South Africa. Additionally, on Thursday, he held joint discussions with his counterparts from Australia, Mexico, Indonesia, and Turkey, members of the MIKTA group established in 2013 to foster cooperation on mutual interests.