Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) are meeting face-to-face on Tuesday (May 4) to discuss the most pressing geopolitical challenges facing the world, including China and Russia.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will chair a discussion on “pressing geopolitical issues that threaten democracy, freedom and human rights,” which “include relations with Russia, China and Iran, as well as the crises in Myanmar, Ethiopia and the ongoing war in Syria,” the British Foreign Office said in a statement. the violence in Ethiopia and the ongoing war in Syria.
The statement also said that Russia was carrying out “malicious activities”, including the build-up of troops on the Ukrainian border and the imprisonment of opposition figure Navalny.
The British Foreign Office also tweeted, “Today’s agenda is focused on decisive action on the most critical global issues, including Russia, China, Iran and Burma.”
Reuters reported that Britain will seek agreement with its G-7 partners to take decisive action to protect democracies. Britain also said that China’s economic influence and Russia’s malign activities could undermine democracies.
Foreign Secretary George Raab said Britain’s presidency of the G-7 this year is “an opportunity for open, democratic societies to come together and show solidarity at a time when there is an urgent need to tackle common challenges and growing threats.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters a day earlier at a news conference with British Foreign Secretary George Raab: “Our intent is not to try to contain China or suppress China.”
Blinken said that when any country, Chinese or otherwise, acts to challenge, undermine or attempt to undermine the international rules-based order and does not live up to the commitments they have made to the order, “we will stand up for the order.”
He added that the United States is very concerned about Russia’s actions and will respond if Russia chooses to act recklessly.
He added: “But we don’t want to escalate. We would prefer to have a more stable, predictable relationship. If Russia moves in that direction, we will do the same.”
After Tuesday’s talks, the foreign ministers will also have dinner with guest countries including Australia, India, South Korea, South Africa and Brunei, the current chair of ASEAN.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will host the G-7 summit in Cornwall, England, in June. According to an earlier White House announcement, President Biden will attend the G-7 summit, where he will hold bilateral meetings with G7 leaders, including British Prime Minister Johnson.
The G7 consists of the United States, Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Italy and Japan, and had become the G8 after Russia joined in 1997. However, Russia was excluded after the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis in 2014.
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