Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono has called for a stronger role for middle powers in reforming the multilateral system at the 30th MIKTA Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New York.
The meeting was held on Monday (Sept 21) on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly’s 81st session.
“With the collective strength we have, MIKTA can make a real contribution to shape the future of the multilateral system and deliver benefits that are more felt by the public,” Sugiono said in a statement received here on Tuesday.
He appreciated Australia on its leadership as MIKTA Chair in 2026 for maintaining the group’s productivity.
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According to him, the momentum needs to continue being leveraged to strengthen MIKTA’s contribution in promoting a more effective and responsive multilateral system.
In the context of UN reform, Indonesia stressed that reform is not solely about efficiency, but also involves legitimacy, effectiveness, and accountability.
“MIKTA can maintain the continuity of ongoing reform initiatives and help build consensus on a reform roadmap with a clear direction that reflects a shared vision,” Sugiono explained.
Indonesia further underlined that MIKTA’s strength lies in its credibility and consistency, with the diversity of perspectives and regions among its member countries serving as a source of that credibility.
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Meanwhile, the proposed mechanism of a coordinating country for specific issues could strengthen the consistency of MIKTA’s coordination, allowing its cooperation to run in a more directed and solid manner.
Sugiono appreciated MIKTA’s swift response in issuing a joint statement following an attack on Indonesian peacekeepers serving under UNIFIL in Lebanon in April 2026.
The ability to respond to the developments in real time is important for MIKTA to maintain its relevance, he stated.
Other issues of concern to the MIKTA foreign ministers included the development agenda and artificial intelligence (AI).
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Sugiono also stressed the importance of expanding cooperation with the private sector, philanthropy, and other strategic partners that can help turn ideas into action.
“Ultimately, the strength of middle powers will only matter when we are able to turn our collective strength into real impact,” he said.
Australia’s chairmanship of MIKTA in 2026 carries the theme “State of the Multilateral System and the Role of Middle Powers”.
The 30th MIKTA Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was also attended by the foreign ministers of the group’s other member countries, namely Mexico, South Korea, and Turkiye.
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Translator: Katriana, Kenzu
Editor: Fransiska Ninditya
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