In brief
At a recent G7 summit in France, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined international counterparts to address the urgent situation regarding the Iran war. Emphasizing the need for a de-escalation to stabilize the world economy, Rubio asserted the importance of restoring maritime safety in the Strait of Hormuz. Amidst growing concerns over energy prices due to the conflict's impact, G7 members, including the U.K., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, expressed caution about military involvement, while also discussing the ongoing war in Ukraine and its interconnectedness with the situation in Iran.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has joined a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in France for talks in which the US-Israeli war with Iran is the main focus.
Rubio is expected to face pressure to de-escalate the conflict as concerns continue to grow over its impact on the world economy.
The other G7 countries – the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan – are wary of being drawn in militarily. The group is also discussing the war in Ukraine.
As he headed to France, Rubio said it was in the interest of G7 nations to step up and help restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that Iran has effectively blockaded, causing fuel prices to soar.
I'm not there to make them happy, he told reporters. For all the countries who care about international law, they should be doing something about it.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated: We need to see a swift resolution to this conflict that restores regional stability, that needs to include the Strait of Hormuz.
About 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes through the strait. Its closure has seen the price of oil skyrocket and raised concerns that a prolonged blockage could raise energy prices.
Rubio reaffirmed President Trump's commitment to reaching a ceasefire in Russia's war on Ukraine as soon as possible.
Following meetings, the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas noted that the conflicts were very much interlinked and urged the U.S. to apply pressure on Russia to help alleviate the situation.
