IRIA News

Top diplomats of the Group of Seven (G7) countries gathered in Tokyo, Japan, to convene the ministerial-level meeting aimed at addressing the ongoing global security situation. The bloc members reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and discussed the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and West Bank.

The joint statement released at the end of the meeting said that the G7 nations are more united than ever in the pursuit of international peace, security, and prosperity. It said that the meeting focused on further enhancing the cooperation for a collective response toward recent global and regional issues, building on our commitments by our leaders at the G7 Hiroshima Summit. “We remain steadfast in upholding and strengthening the free and open international order based on the rule of law, respecting the United Nations (UN) Charter,” the statement added. 

The joint statement encompassed the growing concerns about the advanced global challenges, such as climate change, nuclear disarmament, economic resilience and economic security, and gender equality including the Women, Peace and Security agenda. It said, “We remain deeply concerned about foreign interference, information manipulation, and other hostile actions designed to undermine our democracies.” 

Support for Ukraine 

In Tokyo, the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, and the U.S., as well as EU representatives, said that the Israel-Gaza war should not distract from support for Ukraine.

A statement from the Japanese foreign ministry said leaders agreed on the need to impose severe sanctions on Russia and continue to support Ukraine, “even in today’s international situation”, a reference to the situation in the Middle East.

Kyiv is increasingly concerned about “Ukraine fatigue” among Western countries eroding its ability to hold off Russian forces. Several European leaders have expressed their concerns about the economic burden that Ukraine’s war is causing to their countries. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, who took office last month, halted his country’s deliveries of weapons to Ukraine upon coming to power.

“Our steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine’s fight for its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity will never waver. We continue to condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s ongoing aggression, and we commit to standing by Ukraine for as long as it takes while increasing economic pressure and imposing robust sanctions and other restrictions against Russia,” the joint statement said.

It also referenced Russia’s recent move to evoke its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Moscow has recently pulled out of several security agreements including the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.

The statement said that Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and its deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus are unacceptable. “Any use of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons by Russia would be met with severe consequences,” it said. 

Situation in Gaza and West Bank

The G7 foreign ministers discussed in detail the ongoing humanitarian crisis situation in Gaza and West Bank after the Israel-Hamas conflict, however, they reaffirmed their support for Tel Aviv and rejected the possibility of a ceasefire. “We unequivocally condemn the terror attacks by Hamas and others across Israel that began on October 7, 2023, as well as ongoing missile attacks against Israel,” said that statement. 

Without supporting the global call for an immediate ceasefire to save civilian lives, the statement only called for “humanitarian pause and corridors” to address the ongoing crisis. “We stress the need for urgent action to address the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. All parties must allow unimpeded humanitarian support for civilians, including food, water, medical care, fuel, shelter, and access for humanitarian workers,” the joint statement said. 

France is the only G7 nation that has supported the United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for an immediate and sustained “humanitarian truce” in Gaza. Japan, the host of the G7 meeting, has also not been as outspokenly pro-Israel as other U.S. allies, 

Blinken warns Israel against occupying Gaza 

At a press conference on the sidelines of the G7 meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Israel against reoccupying Gaza, even while acknowledging a “transition period” may be necessary following Israel’s war against Hamas militants in the Palestinian enclave.

“It is clear that Israel cannot occupy Gaza,” he said. “Now, the reality is that there may be a need for some transition period at the end of the conflict. But it is imperative that the Palestinian people be central to governance in Gaza and the West Bank, as well,” he added.

More than 10,500 Palestinians have been killed, including over 4,000 children, as Israel intensifies its ground operations and airstrikes in Gaza.

Focus on China

The Tokyo meeting also addressed the ongoing situation in the Indo-Pacific region, especially the rising concerns about China and North Korea, as the Foreign Ministers stressed the importance of continuing to focus on Asia, even while urgent issues in Europe and the Middle East.

The joint statement expressed opposition to “unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion” in the East and South China seas. It also linked the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait to the “security and prosperity” of the international community. “We stand prepared to build constructive and stable relations with China, recognizing the importance of engaging candidly and expressing our concerns directly to China.” 

The joint statement also highlighted the bloc’s commitment to addressing the challenges posed by North Korea’s increasing nuclear capabilities. “We strongly condemn North Korea’s continuing build-up of its unlawful weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs. We reiterate our call for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and demand that North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, and any other WMD and ballistic missile programs in a complete,” the statement said.