Korea-Australia 2+2 Meeting Canceled Due to Middle East Situation Impact

Australian Foreign Minister Cancels Visit to South Korea Over 'Response to Evacuation of Nationals from Israel'

The diplomatic and defense ministers' (2+2) meeting between South Korea and Australia, scheduled for the 19th, was canceled due to the Middle East situation following the attack on Israel by the Palestinian armed group Hamas.

On the 17th, a government official stated, "The Korea-Australia 2+2 meeting, which was scheduled to be held at the Seoul Ministry of Foreign Affairs building on the 19th, was canceled due to circumstances on the Australian side," adding, "The Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs canceled the visit to Korea, so the 2+2 meeting was replaced by a breakfast meeting between the defense ministers of Korea and Australia on the 19th."

It was reported that Penny Wong, the Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs, canceled her visit to Korea due to responses related to the evacuation of Australian nationals from Israel.

Minister Wong wrote on her Twitter account the previous day (local time), "I am postponing my planned visits to Korea and Japan this week," adding, "I will remain in Australia to manage consular, humanitarian, and diplomatic responses to Hamas's attack on Israel and the ongoing conflict."

Richard Mills, the Australian Minister of Defense, who was scheduled to visit Korea for the Seoul Defense Dialogue hosted by the Ministry of National Defense, is also reported to have reduced his visit schedule due to the impact of the Middle East situation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.