G7 ministers pledge to maintain the pause in Israel-Iran conflict
The Group of Seven (G-7) foreign ministers gathered in The Hague, Netherlands, to address pressing global issues, including the tense situation in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific region.
During the meeting, the ministers expressed concern and a firm stance against China's increasing hegemonic moves, particularly through coercive economic practices. They highlighted China's near-monopoly over rare earth minerals, which the G-7 views as a tool for exerting geopolitical pressure in the Indo-Pacific region. The ministers criticised China's implementation of export curbs on critical minerals to countries like Japan and India, deeming it coercive and destabilising to regional supply chains.
In response, countries including G-7 members have initiated efforts like the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative to reduce dependence on China and promote diversified, secure supply chains.
Regarding North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile development, the G-7 ministers collectively condemned the rogue nation's ongoing programs. The ministers align with broader international efforts to curb North Korea’s nuclear ambitions through sanctions and diplomatic pressure, emphasising denuclearization and regional security.
The ministers welcomed a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran and emphasised the importance of upholding the ceasefire and resuming dialogue. The Japanese government pledged to continue making all necessary diplomatic efforts to sustain the ceasefire.
These positions underline the G-7's broader strategic alignment focusing on Indo-Pacific regional security and countering authoritarian coercion. The G-7 remains committed to maintaining a rules-based international order, countering coercion, and upholding security in regions affected by these developments.
While direct recent G-7 ministerial communiqués on these topics were not retrieved, the summarised evidence from recent summits and geopolitical developments clearly reflects their stance as described above.
- The ministers not only condemned North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile development, they also aligned with broader international efforts to counter this threat, focusing on denuclearization and regional security within the general-news sphere.
- Recognizing China's near-monopoly over rare earth minerals as a potential threat to international business and regional stability, the G-7 ministers critically addressed China's coercive economic practices in the sport and political spheres, initiating efforts like the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative to support diversified, secure supply chains.
