Seoul Prepares for High-Level Diplomatic Engagements

South Korea's Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will hold separate talks with his counterparts from Mexico and Kuwait next week. The meetings are part of an effort to enhance bilateral cooperation across economic, energy, and security spheres, according to ministry officials.

Mexican Foreign Secretary Roberto Velasco is scheduled to arrive in Seoul on Monday for talks with Cho, marking the first visit by a Mexican foreign minister to South Korea in three years. The two officials are expected to discuss ways to strengthen economic ties and cooperation in fields including artificial intelligence, space, culture, education, and defense, the ministry said. Mexico is South Korea's largest trading and investment partner in Latin America, and the two countries have maintained close cooperation since establishing a strategic partnership in 2005—the first such partnership Seoul forged with a Latin American nation.

Mexico’s Commitment to Reviving FTA Talks

In an exclusive interview with Yonhap News Agency during his three-day visit to Seoul, Velasco confirmed Mexico's commitment to resume long-stalled free trade agreement (FTA) talks with South Korea. The negotiations, which began in 2006, stalled in 2008 amid opposition from some Mexican industries. Although the two countries agreed in 2022 to restart negotiations, formal talks have not yet begun.

The issue is particularly salient for Korean companies because Mexico has raised tariffs on certain imports from countries without an FTA, including South Korea. Velasco acknowledged the concerns of Korean firms, noting that economic ministries from both sides have been in communication about the matter.

However, Velasco did not provide a timeline for resuming formal FTA negotiations, explaining that Mexico currently prioritizes discussions with the United States on tariff issues and the review of the USMCA. The minister noted that this process, which began July 1, is also of interest to Korean companies given the broader regional trade implications.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho stressed the importance of resuming FTA talks to further accelerate Korean investment in Mexico, which he described as South Korea's largest investment and trade partner in Latin America.

Cooperation in Advanced Sectors and Education

During his visit, Velasco praised South Korea's progress in artificial intelligence, space, and aerospace, and highlighted substantial investments by South Korean companies such as Samsung and LG in Mexico. He also met with officials from Samsung E&A and KAIST to discuss potential joint initiatives in aerospace, space, and advanced sectors.

The two sides discussed the establishment of a bilingual scholarship program and the opening of a Korean Cultural Center in Mexico City, which was welcomed by Velasco given the popularity of Korean culture in his country.

Velasco confirmed that the primary purpose of his visit was to prepare for President Lee Jae-myung's proposed trip to Mexico, which is anticipated to take place next year.

Concrete Action Plan and Leadership Summits

According to a statement from Mexico's foreign ministry (SRE), Velasco and Cho agreed to draft an Action Plan for 2026–2030, with a focus on long-term projects expected to benefit multiple generations. The outcome of the meetings was a commitment to strengthen bilateral ties, share knowledge, and advance cooperation in aerospace engineering, AI, digital governance, defense, and security.

The Mexican foreign ministry indicated that the two governments plan to sign the five-year plan when leaders Claudia Sheinbaum and Lee Jae-myung meet in Mexico City next September. Cho also announced plans to establish a Korean cultural center in Mexico, and the delegations discussed a bilateral scholarship program.

Economic exchange remains a cornerstone of the relationship, with South Korea being Mexico's fifth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade totaling $29.7 billion last year. Both countries identified innovation, AI, and digital governance as priority areas, aiming to transition from knowledge sharing to joint projects.

Kuwait Meeting and Energy Security

Two days after the Mexico talks, Cho is scheduled to meet with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on Tuesday. The visit marks the first by a Kuwaiti foreign minister since 2007.

Ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon said at a regular briefing that, given the expanding cooperation with Gulf countries following the outbreak of war in the Middle East, the two sides will hold in-depth discussions on revitalizing high-level exchanges, ensuring a secure energy supply, Korean companies' participation in post-war reconstruction projects, and ways to expand government-to-government cooperation.

Kuwait was South Korea's fifth-largest crude oil supplier and fourth-largest overseas construction market as of 2025, and the two nations have maintained a close and mutually beneficial partnership, according to the ministry.