Leaders pledge continued military support for Ukraine while welcoming a breakthrough US-Iran agreement aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations have reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, welcomed a breakthrough agreement between the United States and Iran, and pledged to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific in a joint statement issued following their summit in France.
The leaders reiterated their commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as the country continues to battle Russian forces, while signalling plans to intensify pressure on Moscow through additional sanctions and expanded military assistance to Kyiv.
“We, the Leaders of the G7, stand united in our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” the statement said.
The group pledged to strengthen Ukraine’s defensive capabilities through the provision of additional air defence systems, interceptors and long range military capabilities. The leaders also expressed support for boosting Ukraine’s domestic defence production through licensing and industrial cooperation arrangements.
Describing the current phase of the conflict as one marked by “new momentum”, the G7 indicated it was prepared to introduce further measures against Russia, particularly targeting its oil and gas sectors. The statement said leaders believed the time was right to consider additional action following a US backed agreement that helped reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping.
On the Middle East, the G7 welcomed a newly announced agreement between the United States and Iran, calling it “an historic opportunity” to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to address concerns surrounding its regional activities and ballistic missile programme.
The leaders reiterated their longstanding position that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons and voiced support for broader diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting lasting peace and stability across the region.
The statement also endorsed initiatives led by France and the United Kingdom to restore confidence in maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and ensure the uninterrupted flow of global trade through one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
Addressing regional conflicts, the G7 called for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and backed efforts to disarm Hezbollah. The leaders also pledged to accelerate humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts in Gaza while urging an end to violence in the West Bank.
Turning to the Indo-Pacific, the group reaffirmed its commitment to a rules based international order and opposed any attempts to alter the regional status quo through force or coercion.
“We reaffirm our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force or coercion, in the East and South China Seas and across the Taiwan Strait, which should only be resolved peacefully through dialogue,” the statement said.
The leaders also expressed concern over North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, reaffirming their commitment to the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions. They further called for coordinated international efforts to combat North Korean cybercrime and cryptocurrency theft.
The statement concluded with support for global efforts to address economic imbalances and welcomed China’s participation in the Global Convergence for Growth Summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this month.
