South Korea and India Forge Stronger Ties: Foreign Ministers Meet After Six-Year Hiatus

Foreign Minister Cho Tae Yul is having a commemorative photograph with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar before the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 6th./Yonhap News

The South Korean and Indian Foreign Ministers met in Seoul for the first time in six years, emphasizing the importance of bilateral cooperation.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Cho Tae Yul and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar co-chaired the 10th South Korea-India Joint Commission on Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

At the meeting, Minister Jo said, “This is the beginning of the next 50 years for both countries, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations last year,” and added, “India is an important partner for Korea on the international stage.”

He also agreed with Minister Jaishankar’s speech at the National Diplomatic Academy the previous day, stating, “India can emerge as an important factor in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Minister Jaishankar also said at the meeting, “India and Korea have become critical partners for each other,” and suggested that bilateral cooperation should be expanded in areas such as semiconductors, nuclear power, and supply chain resilience.

The two ministers also agreed to continue cooperating with the second project of the K-9 self-propelled gun (known in India as Vajra) and further develop defense and defense industry cooperation. They plan to explore possible options to hold the South Korea-India 2+2 Deputy Ministerial Dialogue on Foreign Affairs and Defense promptly.

The ministers also pointed out that “North Korea’s unprecedented provocations are posing a serious threat to peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in the region and the international community as a whole” and called for “a united and firm response from the international community.”