G7 foreign ministers warn: Clear announcement to Moscow and Tehran

The international trouble spots – the Ukraine conflict, the nuclear dispute with Iran, the power struggle with China – were the focus of the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Liverpool. Moscow and Tehran were given clear warnings.

Demonstrating unity – and thereby strength – was particularly important to Liz Truss, the British Foreign Secretary who chaired the G7 meeting in Liverpool. In her opinion, this goal has also been achieved: “What we showed this weekend is that the world’s largest economies are united,” said the politician. “We have sent a strong signal to our opponents and allies,” continued Truss.

“We have made it unmistakably clear that any invasion by Russia into Ukraine would have massive consequences and entail significant costs.” However, after this G7 meeting, it is still unclear exactly how the consequences might look. The German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced yesterday evening that this was still being discussed.

No solution in sight to the dispute with Tehran

Another big issue in Liverpool was the nuclear dispute with Iran. The attempt to revive the 2015 nuclear deal is proving to be extremely difficult. Foreign Minister Baerbock has pointed out that Iran has lost a lot of trust and that the negotiators are now running out of time: “Unfortunately, it has been shown in the last few days that we are not really making any headway, but that the Iranians’ offer is that we can negotiate by six months fall back again, “complains Baerbock. Everything that was worked out had been taken off the table by the Iranians, “which makes the situation very, very difficult and puts a massive strain on the negotiations.”

Iran must return to the negotiations it was in six months ago, said Baerbock. Minister Truss once again formulated this very emphatically on behalf of the G7: “This is the last chance for Iran to come to the negotiating table with serious intent and to agree to the terms of the nuclear talks,” Truss made it unmistakably clear. “We will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. It is crucial that Iran come to the negotiating table and take the negotiations seriously.”

Focus on China – and climate change

With a view to China, the G7 countries have agreed to treat Beijing as a partner in dealing with major global issues, while at the same time seeing the country as a competitor and, above all, a system rival. The fact that on the second day of the meeting today the G7 round was greatly expanded and that representatives from ASEAN states and other countries also sat at the table shows the attempt to expand the G7’s sphere of influence and create a counterweight to China. Foreign Minister Baerbock intends to continue promoting the practice of international law and human rights in the coming year when Germany takes over the G7 chairmanship.

At the top of the list of priorities for Baerbock there is obviously something else. “First of all, there is the climate crisis, the strong link between the climate crisis and security policy worldwide,” says the Green politician when listing the planned priorities. The world is currently experiencing how strongly climate change is a driver of conflicts around the world, especially in Africa. “At the same time, using the energy and climate partnerships in the future as a real opportunity for prosperity, for justice worldwide, that will be one of the central projects of the German G7 presidency,” said Baerbock.