G7 foreign ministers meet in Paris as Europe presses US on Ukraine and Iran
G7 foreign ministers are meeting in Paris for two days of talks focused on Russia's war in Ukraine and the prospect of further US strikes on Iran. The gathering brings together ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. It comes at a moment when European governments are seeking to shape Washington's approach to both conflicts.
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The talks began on Monday and are expected to run through Tuesday, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio due to attend both days. That is a longer presence than at the previous G7 ministerial in March, when he attended for only one day. According to the supplied material, European powers want the United States to pursue what they see as a fair settlement for Ukraine and to deter any further military action against Iran.
The meeting is taking place against the backdrop of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which is now approaching its fifth year. The same source says Washington is still not ruling out new attacks on Iran, even after the defeat of President Donald Trump's Republicans in the midterm elections. The issue is likely to sharpen debate among allies over how far the US should go in using military pressure in the Middle East.
The Paris talks are one of the final acts of the French G7 presidency. The meeting had originally been scheduled for Marseille but was moved to Paris at the last minute, with only scheduling reasons given for the change. France hosted the G7 leaders' summit this summer in Evian, and the next G7 presidency will pass to the United States in 2027.
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The timing also matters because the Paris meeting coincides with US-mediated talks involving Moscow and Kyiv in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Europeans would be represented and that France would be in Abu Dhabi to take part in those discussions. That suggests the G7 meeting is not only about coordination among allies, but also about how Europe should position itself in parallel negotiations over the war.
What remains unclear is whether the ministers will emerge with any common language on Ukraine peace terms or on the risk of further US action against Iran. The supplied material does not indicate any final outcome from the Paris talks. Attention will now turn to whether the US and European partners can narrow their differences as the Abu Dhabi discussions continue and as the G7 presidency prepares to change hands.
