Mexican envoy positive about role of a network of middle-power nations

Foreign ministers of MIKTA pose for a photo during the first meeting in New York, Sept. 25. / Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

By Kim Se-jeong
 koreatimes.co.kr
 

Mexican Ambassador Jose Luis Bernal

MIKTA is a new acronym in diplomatic circles.

It represents five countries — Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey and Australia — a group of “middle power” nations that recently launched a dialogue forum.

The official opening was in September in New York where five foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Amid the strong presence of BRICs — Brazil, Russia, India and China — will MIKTA be able to survive, and have long-term influence?

The ambassador of Mexico in Seoul says he is positive about the future. His country is the first to hold the secretariat role in MIKTA.

“We share what we have in common, although we are not similar. And together we can get our act together to solve issues like climate change,” Ambassador Jose Luis Bernal told The Korea Times last week.

He also noted the gap-bridging role some members of MIKTA are playing, which to him is a significant contributing factor in increasing cooperation in global affairs.

The five countries are currently brainstorming on issues of shared interest about which all five can speak together. The members are also working to come up with a framework for the group.

Climate change, democratization, United Nations reform and nuclear disarmament are very much shared, while issues such as cyber space security and international development were sought by the Korean govern in particular.

As a consultative body, MIKTA remains without a specific interest as seen in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) or ASEAN with a strong economic interest.

Ambassador Bernal also reiterated the importance of different networks in contemporary-era diplomacy.

There is an increasing number of nation groupings based on geographical and economic interests. The most dynamic stage is international trade where new bilateral and multilateral tariff-free, or reduced, trade partnerships are formed.

Korea and Mexico are part of APEC and the Pacific Alliance, a group of four Latin American countries on the Pacific Rim — Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru — with a focus on Asia. Korea is an observer at the Pacific Alliance. The Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations involving 12 countries are currently underway, and Korea is reportedly contemplating joining.

As far as bilateral relations are concerned, the ambassador, who is three months into the job in Korea, signaled a shifted priority in signing the free trade agreement with Korea.

In bilateral trade, Mexico has suffered a significant deficit for a long time, and has sought to narrow the deficit gap via the accord.

“Mexico has its own source of surplus with other countries,” he said. Korea’s exports to Mexico are around $11.5 billion, whereas Mexico is at $3.5 billion.

A meeting between presidents of the two countries last week in Bali agreed on finding ways to restart the negotiations which have been on hold since 2008 after the second round of negotiations.

A trade ministry official following the issue and the leaders’ Bali meeting said that Korea is willing to resume negotiations, whereas Mexico is confronting political challenges domestically.

Mexico’s strong agricultural sector, including cultivation of avocados, onions, limes and lemons and asparagus, is anticipated to be the biggest beneficiary of the accord. However, so far, the endeavor to open the Korean market has been unsuccessful due to strict quarantine requirements.