Defense ministers from the rich democracies of the Group of Seven (G7) today expressed their support for the “irreversible” course of the Ukrainian to join the NATO and expressed concern about threats to UN peacekeeping forces targeted by Israel in Lebanon.
OR first meeting of G7 defense ministers It occurred as Israel and the armed group Hezbollah exchanged fire, with a remotely controlled unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) heading towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s country home, according to his spokesman.
Italy holds the rotating G7 presidency for 2024, while the West also faces pressure from Russia in Ukraine and China’s military activities around Taiwan, as well as rising tensions on the North-South-Korean border.
The Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosettohost of the summit held in Naples, told journalists that the G7 cannot resolve global tensions alone, but must mobilize action across the international community.
“The G7 should be like a fly that has the power to sting the rest of the world,” he said at a press conference.
Along with Italy, the G7 includes the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain and Japan. Representatives of the European Union, NATO and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rusten Umerov also participated in the talks.
In the final announcement, the G7 supported Kiev’s “irreversible course towards full Euro-Atlantic integration, including accession NATO».
The G7 also expressed concern about China’s support for Moscow and Beijing’s recent military high schools around Taiwan.
The G7 joint statement calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza and she release of Israeli hostages which Hamas still maintains, stating that the attacks risk “triggering an uncontrolled escalation in the Middle East”.
The statement also states that G7 countries are concerned “about all threats to the security of (UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon) UNIFIL.” The protection of peacekeepers is an obligation of all parties to the conflict.”
Source: AMPE