UK Hosts 1st G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting since Pandemic Began

G7 Foreign and Development Ministers travelled to London this week for their first in-person gathering in the more than two years since the pandemic began.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab led discussions that sought to establish ambitious targets on climate finance and girls’ education, a coordinated approach to strengthening global health, and new measures to prevent famine.

As the UK recognizes the importance of building dynamic, agile new partnerships with like-minded countries, the Foreign Secretary has invited, in addition to G7 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and UK, plus the EU), Australia, India, the Republic of Korea, South Africa, and for the first time the Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to join parts of this year’s G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ meeting as guests.

Meetings focussed on pressing geopolitical issues that threaten to undermine democracy, freedoms, and human rights. These include agreeing on new measures to support media freedom, tackle disinformation, and enhance coordination on freedom of religion or belief, sanctions, and arbitrary detention.

Discussions also addressed relations with Russia, its ongoing malign activity including through the build-up of troops on the border with Ukraine, and its imprisonment of opposition figure Alexei Navalny. In addition, they touched upon the situation in Belarus, China, Iran, and the crisis in Myanmar.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “This week’s G7 meeting shows Global Britain bringing the world’s biggest democracies together to tackle shared challenges. The addition of our friends from Australia, India, the Republic of Korea, and South Africa, as well as the chair of ASEAN reflects the growing significance of the Indo-Pacific region for the G7.”

Discussions also turned to the situation in Libya, the ongoing war in Syria, and the situation in Ethiopia, as well as Somalia, the Sahel, and the Western Balkans.

Other UK priorities during the meetings included:

· pushing for bolder national commitments and action plans to reverse biopersity loss by 2030 and reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050;

· a strong, collective commitment to equitable vaccine access and international collaboration on therapeutics and diagnostics;

· focussing G7 efforts on gender equality, including educating girls, ending violence against women and girls, and empowering women to be more active politically and in peace processes;

· mobilizing resources for life-saving humanitarian support in countries at the highest risk and driving humanitarian action to avert future food crises.

Throughout the week the Foreign Secretary hosted bilateral meetings with each of the G7 foreign ministers and invited guests. On Monday, he met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in London for talks on issues including trade, China, Afghanistan, and Iran.

In remarks welcoming the US’ firm recommitment to the NATO alliance, Foreign Secretary Raab said: “It is only by working together overseas that we can keep our citizens safe at home. That’s true in NATO, and I think it’s true on COVID and the various measures we are taking to extend and expand and promote COVAX. We look forward to welcoming President Biden to the UK in June.”

The Foreign Secretary also hosted the Japanese Foreign Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, to deepen trade and security cooperation and agree on a shared approach on the security of the Indo-Pacific region. The two foreign ministers discussed the UK’s application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade grouping.

Other bilateral meetings included with Canadian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marc Garneau and with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, where Raab agreed to work closely together with each country on ambitious COP26 targets, international climate finance, and G7 priorities. The Foreign Secretary also met with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, and discussed raising ambition for the COP26 climate change conference in November, which the UK is hosting in partnership with Italy.

In addition, the ministers discussed the importance of the Global Coalition against Daesh in tackling the threat of terrorism from North Africa and the Sahel and the ongoing UN talks to resolve the Cyprus issue.