Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven opened two days of talks in Paris on Monday, Nov. 9, with Ukraine and Iran at the top of the agenda and Secretary of State Marco Rubio making his first trip abroad since the midterm elections.
The G7 is Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. European governments are expected to press Washington to seek a fair settlement for Ukraine and to hold off on further military action against Iran, AFP reported. The meeting had long been planned for Marseille but was moved to Paris at the last minute, with only scheduling reasons given.
What's on the table
France, which holds the G7 presidency this year, said ministers will discuss support for Ukraine, stabilizing the Middle East, securing energy supplies, and crises in Sudan, the Horn of Africa, Venezuela, Cuba and Haiti, according to the French foreign ministry. Other topics include port security against drug trafficking, humanitarian aid and safer artificial intelligence. Brazil, Egypt, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine were invited to take part.
The meeting comes just before U.S.-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday. The United States takes over the G7 presidency in 2027.
Rubio on the midterms
Before leaving, Rubio declined to comment directly on the Republicans' midterm losses. "It is not uncommon to have a division of power in this country," he said. Related: Rubio defends the Iran war and Russia-Ukraine strikes ahead of the Abu Dhabi talks.