South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun briefly met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Canada. The encounter took place amid delays in releasing a joint fact sheet outlining trade and security outcomes from a recent leaders' summit. The two exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest.
The G7 foreign ministers' meeting took place in Canada's Niagara Region, Ontario, for two days starting Tuesday local time. South Korea attended as a guest nation alongside Brazil, India, and others. The potential meeting between Cho and Rubio drew attention as it could address the release of a joint fact sheet summarizing outcomes from a recent leaders' summit.
The fact sheet was expected to detail Seoul's efforts to secure fuel supplies for nuclear-powered submarines and South Korea's $350 billion investment pledge in exchange for the U.S. reducing tariffs on South Korean goods from 25 percent to 15 percent. Amid the delay, Seoul officials pointed to incomplete coordination among U.S. agencies on 'security' matters, likely tied to the submarine issue.
The foreign ministry stated in a press release that Cho "exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest" with Rubio. Specific discussion topics were not immediately disclosed.
During the gathering, Cho held bilateral talks with counterparts from Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the European Union (EU), and Germany, covering bilateral ties, economic cooperation, and regional and global geopolitical situations. In meetings with German and EU officials, Cho highlighted Seoul's peace initiative to ease inter-Korean tensions and sought support for Korean Peninsula denuclearization efforts.
Cho also joined two expanded G7 sessions on maritime and energy security and critical minerals. He stressed the importance of upholding a maritime order based on international law and called for enhanced cooperation in enforcing laws to protect key infrastructure, such as undersea cables.