DM Monitoring
LONDON: Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) nations are gathering in London for their first in-person meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The week is billed by the United Kingdom, which holds the group’s rotating presidency, as a chance to reassert the West’s influence and address issues such as coronavirus recovery, climate change and growing tensions with Russia and China. It will launch with talks between UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The ministers will also lay the groundwork for US President Joe Biden’s first scheduled trip abroad since taking office, a June G7 summit in the UK meant to revive cooperation with traditional allies after years of friction under former President Donald Trump.
In addition to G7 member states Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US, the UK has invited ministers from Australia, India, South Africa and South Korea to this week’s event.
The meetings will begin with dinner on Monday evening. UK and US to discuss Russia, China Before that, Raab and Blinken will meet to discuss shared goals.
The UK is eager to capitalise on Biden’s willingness to re-engage with global efforts to fight climate change and to restore a nuclear deal with Iran rejected by Trump.
