South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will visit France from March 25 to 27 to attend the first G7 Foreign Ministers’ Expanded Meeting of 2026.
During a regular press briefing on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il explained that the government plans to participate in this meeting to strengthen the partnership between South Korea and the G7, while also enhancing our position as a globally responsible nation.
The agenda for this meeting includes global governance reform, reconstruction, and responses to transnational threats. Minister Cho will also hold separate bilateral talks with key officials, including foreign ministers from other participating countries.
Notably, as President Donald Trump has requested South Korea to dispatch naval vessels to the Strait of Hormuz, Minister Cho is expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his visit to France.
Regarding this, a Foreign Ministry official stated that they’re assessing the attendance of other foreign ministers. If Secretary Rubio attends the G7 meeting, it will likely pursue bilateral talks between South Korea and the U.S., or trilateral talks including Japan.
In a previous phone call with Minister Cho, Secretary Rubio emphasized that cooperation among multiple countries is more crucial than ever to ensure long-term security in the Strait of Hormuz and to stabilize the global economy and international oil prices. This statement has led some to interpret it as an official request from the U.S. for the deployment of South Korean troops.