Sugiono: MIKTA Plays Role in Strengthening Multilateral System

RRI.CO.ID, New York – Indonesia's Foreign Afairs Minister, Sugiono, emphasized that MIKTA can contribute to strengthening the multilateral system and delivering more tangible benefits to the public through the collective strength of its member countries.

“With the collective strength we have, MIKTA can make a meaningful contribution to shaping the future of the multilateral system and delivering more tangible benefits to the people,” Sugiono said at the 30th MIKTA Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, United States, on Monday, September 21, 2026.

He expressed appreciation for Australia’s leadership as the 2026 MIKTA Chair, which he said has helped maintain the group’s productive cooperation. He said this momentum should be utilized to strengthen MIKTA’s contribution to promoting a more effective and responsive multilateral system.

In the context of UN reform, Indonesia emphasized that reform is not solely about efficiency, but also concerns legitimacy, effectiveness, and accountability. “MIKTA can maintain the continuity of ongoing reform initiatives and help build consensus on a reform roadmap with clear direction that reflects our shared vision,” Sugiono said.

Furthermore, Indonesia emphasized that MIKTA’s strength lies in its credibility and consistency. The diversity of perspectives and regions represented by its member countries is considered one of the sources of MIKTA’s credibility.

Sugiono also said that the proposed country coordinator mechanism for specific issues could strengthen the consistency of MIKTA’s coordination, allowing cooperation to proceed in a more focused and cohesive manner.

He also welcomed MIKTA’s swift response in issuing a joint statement following an attack on Indonesian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Lebanon in April 2026.

According to Sugiono, the ability to respond to developments in real time is important for MIKTA to maintain its relevance. In addition to peace and security issues, MIKTA foreign ministers also discussed development agendas and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Sugiono stressed the importance of expanding cooperation with the private sector, philanthropic organizations, and other strategic partners to translate ideas into concrete action.

“Ultimately, the strength of middle powers will only matter when we are able to turn our collective strength into tangible impact,” he said.

Australia’s 2026 MIKTA chairmanship carries the theme “State of the Multilateral System and the Role of Middle Powers.” The meeting was also attended by the foreign ministers of Mexico, the Republic of Korea, and Türkiye, the other MIKTA member countries.