South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is set to embark on a four-day trip to Turkey and Belgium for bilateral discussions and a strategic dialogue with the European Union. In Turkey, Cho will meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to review progress on key projects such as nuclear energy, defense industry, bio, and infrastructure. This visit follows President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to Turkey last year.
Cho will then head to Belgium to engage in a strategic security dialogue with Kaja Kallas, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy. South Korea and the EU upgraded their relationship to a “strategic partnership” in 2010, focusing on areas like security, defense, economy, trade, and science and technology. The upcoming discussions will cover South Korea-EU relations and regional issues like the Korean Peninsula and the conflict in Ukraine.
Additionally, while in Brussels, Cho plans to hold talks with David Clarinval, Belgium’s deputy prime minister and minister of labor, economy, and agriculture. Earlier this year, Cho pledged to enhance the operational efficiency of South Korea’s diplomatic missions abroad to adapt to the evolving global landscape. He emphasized the need for restructuring less effective missions and reinforcing the functions of key embassies to better serve Korean nationals and businesses overseas.
