diff --git a/packages/remark-wiki-link/src/lib/fromMarkdown.ts b/packages/remark-wiki-link/src/lib/fromMarkdown.ts
index 5b5f7b9c..e91d237e 100644
--- a/packages/remark-wiki-link/src/lib/fromMarkdown.ts
+++ b/packages/remark-wiki-link/src/lib/fromMarkdown.ts
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ function fromMarkdown(opts: FromMarkdownOptions = {}) {
         ? "/" + possibleWikiLinkPermalinks[0]
         : possibleWikiLinkPermalinks[0]) ||
       "";
+    const isExternal = /^https?:\/\//.test(link);
 
     wikiLink.data.exists = !!matchingPermalink;
     wikiLink.data.permalink = link;
@@ -130,7 +131,7 @@ function fromMarkdown(opts: FromMarkdownOptions = {}) {
           wikiLink.data.hName = "a";
           wikiLink.data.hProperties = {
             className: classNames + " " + "transclusion",
-            href: hrefTemplate(link) + headingId,
+            href: hrefTemplate(link) + headingId
           };
           wikiLink.data.hChildren = [{ type: "text", value: displayName }];
 
@@ -163,7 +164,11 @@ function fromMarkdown(opts: FromMarkdownOptions = {}) {
       wikiLink.data.hProperties = {
         className: classNames,
         href: hrefTemplate(link) + headingId,
+        target: "_blank",
       };
+      if(isExternal){
+        wikiLink.data.hProperties.target = "_blank"; // Open in a new tab
+      }
       wikiLink.data.hChildren = [{ type: "text", value: displayName }];
     }
   }
diff --git a/packages/remark-wiki-link/src/lib/html.ts b/packages/remark-wiki-link/src/lib/html.ts
index 1058652f..ce7460d6 100644
--- a/packages/remark-wiki-link/src/lib/html.ts
+++ b/packages/remark-wiki-link/src/lib/html.ts
@@ -96,6 +96,9 @@ function html(opts: HtmlOptions = {}) {
         : possibleWikiLinkPermalinks[0]) ||
       "";
 
+    const isExternal = /^https?:\/\//.test(link);
+    const openInNewTab = isExternal ? 'target="_blank"' : '';
+
     // remove leading # if the target is a heading on the same page
     const displayName = alias || target.replace(/^#/, "");
     // replace spaces with dashes and lowercase headings
diff --git a/packages/remark-wiki-link/test/micromarkExtensionWikiLink.spec.ts b/packages/remark-wiki-link/test/micromarkExtensionWikiLink.spec.ts
index 663b885c..9b173f4a 100644
--- a/packages/remark-wiki-link/test/micromarkExtensionWikiLink.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/remark-wiki-link/test/micromarkExtensionWikiLink.spec.ts
@@ -331,4 +331,14 @@ describe("micromark-extension-wiki-link", () => {
       expect(serialized).toBe(`<p><a href="li nk-w(i)th-àcèô íã_a(n)d_underline!:ª%@'*º$ °~./\\#li-nk-w(i)th-àcèô-íã_a(n)d_underline!:ª%@'*º$-°~./\\" class="internal new">li nk-w(i)th-àcèô íã_a(n)d_underline!:ª%@'*º$ °~./\\#LI NK-W(i)th-àcèô íã_a(n)d_uNdErlinE!:ª%@'*º$ °~./\\</a></p>`);
     });
   })
+
+  describe("External links", () => {
+    test("parses an external link that opens in a new tab", () => {
+      const serialized = micromark("[google](https://www.google.com/)", "ascii", {
+        extensions: [syntax()],
+        htmlExtensions: [html() as any],
+      });
+      expect(serialized).toBe(`<p><a href="https://www.google.com/" target="_blank">google</a></p>`);
+    });
+  })
 });