Top diplomats of South Korea, Australia to hold talks this week amid Mideast crisis
Seoul, April 27
The top diplomats of South Korea and Australia will hold talks later this week on a range of shared issues, including enhancing defense cooperation and joint efforts to address supply chain instability amid the Middle East crisis, the foreign ministry said Monday.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will meet with his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, for bilateral talks in Seoul on Thursday, the ministry said in a press release.
The two sides are expected to reaffirm their commitments to working together to address common challenges in relation to the current situation in the Middle East and the global energy crisis, the ministry said.
They will also discuss efforts to deepen cooperation in the defence and defence industry sectors, it added.
The meeting will come about a month after the two top diplomats spoke over the phone on March 16, Yonhap news agency reported.
Earlier on April 23, South Korea's special envoy to Iran had met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran.
Chung Byung-ha, special envoy for South Korea's foreign minister had expressed hope in his meeting with Araghchi that diplomatic efforts would bring a definite end to the conflict and lead to peace and stability in the region, a Telegram post by Iran's foreign ministry showed.
Chung also noted the importance of developing bilateral relations between Seoul and Tehran.
Echoing Chung's remark on their ties, Araghchi had expressed Iran's readiness to cooperate in that regard.
Regarding Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi had defended the measure as an effort to safeguard its national security and interests, saying that "responsibility for any resulting consequences lies with the parties carrying out the aggression," according to the post.
Twenty-six South Korea-related ships and 173 Korean crew members had remain stranded in the vital waterway blocked by both Iran and the United States.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting that Iran is defending the Strait of Hormuz blockade as a security measure. For countries like India that rely heavily on oil imports, any disruption there is worrying. Hope diplomatic solutions prevail soon.
The 26 South Korean ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz is a big deal. This shows how quickly geopolitical tensions can impact ordinary sailors and trade. India should use its diplomatic channels to ensure no such incidents affect our own ships. Yaar, it's a mess.
Defense cooperation between South Korea and Australia is a positive step, but the real challenge is balancing ties with Iran and the US. As someone who follows global affairs, I think India can learn from how Seoul navigates these tricky alliances.
It's encouraging to see diplomatic channels still open despite tensions. The fact that South Korea's envoy met Iran's foreign minister shows that dialogue is possible even in crisis. Hope this leads to de-escalation because the world can't afford more instability. 🙏
Just another round of talks while sailors remain stranded. I appreciate the effort but actions matter more than press releases. The blockade on the Strait of Hormuz is a serious issue that requires immediate resolution, not just photo ops.
As an Indian, I feel concerned about
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