Korea, Brazil Foreign Ministers Hold Talks to Discuss Expanding Cooperation on Energy Supply Chains

by Lee Hanna

Published 16 Apr.2026 10:08(KST)

Updated 16 Apr.2026 11:14(KST)

Foreign Minister Hyun Cho held a phone conversation with Mauro Vieira, Foreign Minister of Brazil, to discuss ways to expand cooperation on energy supply chains in response to the supply chain crisis originating in the Middle East.

Foreign Minister Hyun Cho held a bilateral meeting with Mauro Vieira, Foreign Minister of Brazil, on the occasion of attending the Group of Seven (G7) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in France on the 26th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 16, Minister Cho explained during the call with Minister Vieira on the evening of the previous day that "the government is making every effort to secure alternative sources of supply for items with a high dependence on the Middle East, such as crude oil, as the international energy and commodity supply chain crisis continues due to recent developments in the Middle East."

He also expressed hope that cooperation with Brazil, a major oil producer, would be significantly expanded in the fields of energy security and supply chains.

The two ministers welcomed the fact that this follow-up discussion was taking place after their meeting on the occasion of the Group of Seven (G7) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in March. They also agreed to continue working-level consultations to further develop the achievements of cooperation established during the state visit to Korea by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in February.

Furthermore, both sides intend to strengthen high-level exchanges as strategic partners and maintain close communication on key global issues, including supply chain stabilization and matters related to the Korean Peninsula.