Marco Rubio Joins G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in France
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has participated in a meeting of G7 foreign ministers held in France, where discussions centered primarily on the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
Rubio is anticipated to encounter calls for de-escalation amid rising concerns about the conflict's repercussions on the global economy.
The other G7 member countries—the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan—express caution about becoming militarily involved. The group also addressed the ongoing war in Ukraine during the meeting.
Focus on Strait of Hormuz and Regional Stability
Prior to his arrival in France, Rubio emphasized the importance for G7 nations to increase their involvement in securing the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively blockaded, leading to a surge in fuel prices.
"I'm not there to make them happy," Rubio told reporters. "For all the countries who care about international law, they should be doing something about it."
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, speaking as the meeting commenced, highlighted the necessity of a swift resolution to restore regional stability, explicitly mentioning the Strait of Hormuz.
"We need to see a swift resolution to this conflict that restores the regional stability, that needs to include the Strait of Hormuz."
Approximately 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas typically transit through the strait, and the conflict has raised concerns regarding price increases and potential supply shortages.
G7 ministers have previously declared their readiness to implement "necessary measures" to support the global energy supply chain.
Calls for a Unified Position and Criticism of NATO
During the ministers' meeting on Thursday, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul advocated for the G7 to establish a "common position" alongside the United States to expedite the conflict's resolution.
He noted the importance of talks with Rubio and affirmed that France and Britain share the same stance.
Hours before Rubio's departure to France, US President Donald Trump reiterated criticism of NATO—of which all G7 countries except Japan are members—stating that the alliance had "done absolutely nothing to help with" the situation.
Interlinked Discussions on Iran and Ukraine
Talks concerning Iran are expected to intersect with discussions about Russia's war in Ukraine.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with Rubio on Friday morning on the sidelines of the G7 meeting, emphasizing the critical role of the United States in advancing peace efforts.
"We also spoke about the developments in the Middle East. Ukraine's position is that the regimes in Moscow and Tehran work together to prolong the war," Sybiha stated.
The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, attending the G7 meeting, remarked that the conflicts are "very much interlinked," adding that if the US aims to halt the Iran war, it should "also put the pressure on Russia."
UK Defence Secretary Highlights Russian-Iranian Military Cooperation
UK Defence Secretary John Healey, speaking to the BBC on Thursday, noted that prior to the conflict, Russia had been sharing intelligence and providing training to Iran on drone technology and electronic warfare.
"As far as Iran goes, they're demonstrating a capacity to hit across the Middle East, we see the same tactics and technologies that we see employed by Russia in Ukraine, and this is the hidden hand of Putin in both conflicts," Healey said.
