IRIA News

The foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) nations gathered on the Italian Mediterranean island of Capri to hold meetings. Key issues on the agenda include escalating tensions in the Middle East and discussions surrounding assistance to Ukraine amidst Russia’s ongoing invasion.

The meeting has brought together the Foreign Ministers of Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union to discuss common efforts. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also attended one session of the meeting on April 18.

The assembly comes shortly after Iran’s unprecedented aerial attack on Israel. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, serving as the host for the discussions, affirmed that the ministers were actively deliberating on potential sanctions against Iran. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is among the attendees at the gathering of the G7 leading nations.

According to a statement released by the U.S. State Department ahead of the meeting, Secretary Blinken “looks forward to discussions focused on supporting Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression, addressing the crisis in the Middle East, stabilizing Haiti, and deepening partnerships around the world on issues of mutual interest, including development finance, climate change, artificial intelligence, public health, and peace and security.”

Minister @Antonio_Tajani kicks off today’s first working session of the #G7 Ministers’ meeting on Foreign Affairs devoted to the Middle East. #G7Italy pic.twitter.com/WnL4x6NSRt

— G7 Italy (@G7) April 18, 2024

Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Cameron arrived at the meeting after making a stop in Israel, where they appealed for restraint amidst concerns about a possible Israeli response to Iran.

Cameron urged his G7 counterparts to adopt new “coordinated sanctions” against Iran, which he accused of being “behind so much of the malign activity in this region”. The G7 nations should give a “clear unequivocal message” to Tehran, Cameron said.

Support for Ukraine

With more than two years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine finds itself grappling with an ammunition shortfall. Essential funding from the U.S., which has been stalled by Republican opposition in Congress for months, remains unavailable, while the European Union has struggled to provide timely and adequate munitions support.

G7 ministers commenced the second day of their discussions by addressing the crisis in the Middle East. Later in the afternoon, they will shift their focus to Ukraine, with the participation of the head of NATO and Ukraine’s foreign minister.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged EU member states to provide air defense systems to aid Ukraine in safeguarding its cities against Russia’s targeting of critical infrastructure.

“We cannot only rely on the United States,” Borrell said urging the European nations to provide support to Ukraine. “We have to take our responsibility and stop saying: ‘Oh, yes, the United States will do [it]’. We have to do [it]. We have Patriots, we have anti-missile systems. We have to take them from our barracks, where they are ‘just in case,’ and send [them] to Ukraine where the war is raging. I am sure we will be doing that, but it has to be done quickly,” he said.

“Because we cannot afford Putin’s victory in Ukraine. And Ukrainians are fighting, but they need arms. They need arms and we have to provide them much quicker,” Borrell added.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who joined the G7 foreign ministers for one meeting, highlighted a contrasting approach between the West’s treatment of Israel and that of Ukraine. He highlighted that during Iran’s missile and drone attacks aimed at Israel, the U.S., British, and French forces intervened to intercept them, a response that had not been extended to Ukraine.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also appealed to global partners to increase their provision of air-defense equipment to Ukraine, stressing its urgent necessity “to protect Ukraine and to protect our security.”

She additionally welcomed indications from the United States signaling its continued support for Ukraine despite recent Republican opposition to an aid package. “In these turbulent times, it is a hopeful sign that there are now signals from the Republicans in the US that support for Ukraine can be continued intensively,” Baerbock said.