South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun officially transferred the rotating presidency of the MIKTA (Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey and Australia) diplomatic forum to Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong during a virtual conference on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
Cho reviewed Korea’s year-long tenure as MIKTA chair, highlighting the four Senior Officials’ Meetings (SOM) and the 28th MIKTA Foreign Ministers’ Conference held under its leadership. The transfer marks a shift in leadership for the group of middle power nations, with Australia now taking the helm.
During the meeting, Cho proposed that MIKTA evolve beyond simply formulating discussions and instead become a collaborative body capable of delivering tangible results. He specifically advocated for expanding the forum’s cooperative efforts into practical areas such as humanitarian response, economic resilience, and capacity building, according to a statement released by the South Korean Foreign Ministry.
Cho too urged MIKTA to continue championing multilateralism, international cooperation, adherence to international law, and the promotion of democracy. Other MIKTA member nations expressed agreement with this direction, recognizing the increasing importance of middle power consultations within the evolving international landscape.
Member states acknowledged the leadership demonstrated by South Korea during its presidency and affirmed the need to build upon the cooperative vision established by Seoul. Discussions centered on potential collaborative initiatives in areas including renewable energy, supply chains, critical minerals, vaccines, and financing mechanisms.
The handover to Australia comes after a period of strengthened bilateral ties between Seoul and Canberra. In August 2025, Cho Hyun held his first phone conversation with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, where both officials reaffirmed their countries as key partners and pledged continued collaboration. Wong described South Korea as one of Australia’s most essential partners, emphasizing the need for cooperation in addressing global challenges, according to the South Korean Foreign Ministry.
Further reinforcing the relationship, a meeting between Cho Hyun and Wong took place on October 30, 2025, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. The two ministers discussed economic cooperation, defense collaboration, and defense industry partnerships.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry has not yet announced any further meetings or initiatives planned in conjunction with the Australian presidency of MIKTA.
