In brief
At the G20 summit in Atlanta, South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held multiple bilateral talks with counterparts from the European Union, Britain, India, and Mexico. Discussions covered cyber‑security, space, defense, artificial intelligence, and the renewal of a bilateral investment treaty, setting the stage for South Korea and the UK’s upcoming G20 chairmanships in 2027 and 2028.
South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun proceeded to a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Atlanta, United States, on Saturday, 31 October 2026, according to Seoul’s foreign ministry. The meetings brought together the EU, Britain, India, and Mexico, all of whom are planning to chair future G20 leaders’ meetings.
In the first encounter, Cho was received by Kaja Kallas, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy. The two discussed enhancing their security partnership in cyber and space, underscoring shared concerns over the Korean Peninsula and Ukraine. The ministers exchanged views on how best to guard against emerging cyber threats in an increasingly interconnected world.
Later that day, Cho met British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband. Their conversation centered on deepening defense and artificial‑intelligence cooperation. Both side acknowledged the strategic importance of the upcoming G20 chairmanships, with Britain set for 2027 and South Korea for 2028, and pledged to coordinate on future security initiatives.
In another bilateral session, Cho conversed with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The discussion reviewed progress made on agreements reached during President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to India in April. Both officials highlighted the importance of maintaining strong economic and diplomatic ties amid global uncertainties.
Finally, Cho met Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco. The two sides focused on expediting the entry into force of a revised bilateral investment treaty. The treaty’s swift implementation was said to be critical for sustaining and expanding investment flows between the two nations.
Throughout the meetings, Cho emphasized the need for coordination across the business, security, and technological sectors as the G20 districts moved toward an increasingly digital economy. He suggested that a cohesive policy framework could help safeguard both regional stability and global trade flows.
The discussions are part of a broader effort by South Korea to position itself as a central player in global governance, especially given its forthcoming role in chairing the G20 alongside Britain. The meetings collectively aimed to reinforce multilateral cooperation on pressing issues such as cyber security, space exploration, defense collaboration, artificial intelligence, and investment recovery.
Key Discussions
Cyber, Space, and Security: Both the EU and the UK stressed the importance of integrating cyber‑security protocols with space‑based surveillance and communications. South Korea’s willingness to align its defence posture with EU and UK frameworks was acknowledged as a positive step toward regional stability.
Artificial Intelligence Cooperation: With advancements in AI raising both opportunities and ethical concerns, Cho and his counterparts made it clear that joint research and regulation should be a priority, especially with the upcoming 2027 and 2028 G20 chairmanships on the horizon.
Investment Treaty Revisions: The discussion with Mexico captured the urgency of restoring investor confidence through a revised bilateral investment treaty, with both sides promising to work toward a swift ratification process.
