(Liverpool) The G7 foreign ministers meet on Saturday and Sunday in Liverpool, in the north of England, to show their unity against the “global aggressors” and to discuss in particular Russia, whose maneuvers on the Ukrainian border worry.
British Foreign Minister Liz Truss, whose country holds the presidency of the G7, intends to show a “united front against the global aggressors”, according to her ministry. She will urge her G7 counterparts “to present a united front against malicious behavior – including Russian positions towards Ukraine – and to engage in security and economic support to defend” the borders of freedom “in the world “.
For weeks, NATO, the United States and the Europeans have accused Russia of wanting to invade Ukraine, which Moscow denies.
Liz Truss, who replaced Dominic Raab in September as head of British diplomacy, warned in her first major foreign policy speech on Wednesday that Russia would be making a “strategic mistake” if it invaded Ukraine.
These remarks echoed those of US President Joe Biden, who had “let his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin know” the day before that Russia would be exposed to “strong sanctions, including economic sanctions”, in the event of military escalation in Ukraine.
In addition to this sensitive subject, the heads of diplomacy of Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom will discuss the ongoing crises, particularly in Burma, with the military coup of 1er February and the recent prison sentence of former civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
“United Front”
G7 ministers are also expected to call on Iran to stop nuclear escalation and return to the Vienna Accord.
“This weekend, the world’s most influential democracies will take a stand against the aggressors who seek to undermine freedom and send a clear message that we present a united front,” Liz Truss said ahead of the meeting.
“I want the G7 countries to deepen their ties in areas like trade, investment, technology and security so that we can defend and advance freedom and democracy around the world. I will plead for this over the next few days, ”added the Minister.
This is the second face-to-face meeting of G7 foreign ministers this year, following a rally in May in London.
The head of US diplomacy Antony Blinken arrived in Liverpool on Friday where he met Liz Truss, as well as environmentalist Annalena Baerbock who has just taken the head of German diplomacy. After the G7, he will travel to Southeast Asia for a tour to highlight the importance of the Indo-Pacific region, at the heart of the United States’ anti-China strategy.
Due to the health situation, with the recent spread of the Omicron variant in the UK, strict measures will be in place at the museum in Liverpool hosting the event, with the obligation for delegates to present a PCR test before going. arrive and daily screenings.
Over the weekend, Liz Truss will participate in bilateral meetings with her counterparts from G7 countries and the EU. South Korea and Australia will participate in the meeting as “guests”, while other countries will participate virtually.
It will also launch an initiative this weekend, led by the United Kingdom, to support better collaboration of investments in Africa’s “most fragile markets”.
On Sunday, the minister will organize plenary sessions on global health security as well as on the Indo-Pacific region. Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will join the G7 meeting for the first time, a sign of the growing importance of the region.