Roundtable: Middle-Power Cooperation, MIKTA, and Human Security in a Changing World Order

Speakers

Dr. R. Melis Baydag (Technical University of Munich)

Prof. Young Hoon Song (Kangwon National University)

Moderation: Prof. Christopher Mittelstädt (University of Zurich)

Date and Time

November 19, 2026, 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

Venue

Rämistrasse 59, 8001 Zurich, Room RAA-G-01

Registration is required to participate online.

Abstract

As U.S.–China strategic competition intensifies and conflicts in Ukraine, Iran, and Gaza challenge the existingrules-based international order, cooperation among middle powers has become increasingly important. Whatrole can MIKTA (informal middle power partnership between Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey, and Australia),in which the Republic of Korea is an active participant, play in sustaining and revitalizing this increasingly fragmented order? What are the partnership’s strengths and limitations, and how might closer engagement between MIKTA and neutral Switzerland contribute to preserving the liberal international order?

With the upcoming election of the next UN Secretary-General and the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals approaching, the role of the United Nations in advancing multilateral cooperation on humansecurity and sustainable development is also coming into sharper focus. As a middle power well positioned tobridge the Global North and the Global South, how can Korea strengthen its contributions to human securityin areas such as migration, the environment, refugees, development, and public health? What strategic partnerships can Korea pursue with Switzerland, a neutral country and a major hub for multilateral institutions in Geneva, to advance these goals? As part of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Switzerland’s Policy and Public Diplomacy Series, this panel,co-organized with the University of Zurich, will bring together Dr. R. Melis Baydag of the Technical Universityof Munich, an expert on MIKTA, and Professor Young Hoon Song of Kangwon National University,a specialist in human security. The discussion will explore how Korea and Switzerland can leverage their respective positions and strengths to strengthen middle-power cooperation, revitalize multilateralism, and advance a more resilient and inclusive international order.

Organization: Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies and Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Swiss Confederation