🌍 G7

• The G7 Foreign Ministers united in their support for Ukraine, emphasizing the need for a ceasefire and continued aid against Russian aggression.

• A ceasefire offer between the U.S. and Ukraine has been made, highlighting Ukraine’s commitment to peace under President Zelensky.

• The UK is urging Putin to prove his sincerity by accepting an unconditional ceasefire, warning that more actions will be taken if Russia does not comply.

• The G7 discussed using sanctions and frozen Russian assets to further pressure Russia, aiming to negotiate peace and support Ukraine’s defense.

• The UK is increasing its defense spending, providing Ukraine with military capabilities, and training, while encouraging other allies to do the same.

• A new coalition, led by the UK and France, is being formed to deter future Russian invasions, with plans for operational details to be discussed soon.

• The G7 also addressed the ceasefire in Gaza, condemning Hamas and urging Israel to allow humanitarian aid, while discussing an Arab reconstruction plan.

• Support was expressed for political transition in Syria, condemning recent violence and calling for accountability.

• Iran’s nuclear ambitions were a significant concern, with the G7 urging de-escalation and considering all diplomatic options to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

• The G7 condemned atrocities in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the UK planning to host a conference on Sudan.

• The meeting also supported Venezuela’s democracy and Guyana’s sovereignty, and welcomed peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

• A new Canadian-led maritime security initiative was backed by the G7, reflecting the importance of secure trade routes.

• The Foreign Secretary emphasized the historical significance of the G7 and the need for continued collaboration among democracies to face global challenges.

The session displayed a relatively low level of disagreement among the members. The main focus was on the outcomes and discussions from the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting, particularly concerning Ukraine, the Middle East, and other global issues. The contributions from different Members of Parliament (MPs) across the political spectrum, including the Foreign Secretary (Mr. David Lammy), shadow Secretary of State (Priti Patel), the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee (Emily Thornberry), and others, largely showed a unified support for the policies discussed and the actions planned, especially in relation to Ukraine and international security. There were questions and clarifications sought, which is normal in parliamentary sessions, but these did not escalate into significant disputes or opposition.

• The Foreign Secretary reiterated the unity of G7 countries in support of Ukraine and the consensus on various global issues, emphasizing a cooperative rather than confrontational stance. For instance, he noted that the G7 was united in supporting Ukraine’s defense and pursuit of peace.
• The shadow Secretary, Priti Patel, while pressing for more details on specific actions, such as the deployment of troops and the use of Russian assets, did so in a manner that complimented the government’s efforts and showed an alignment in supporting Ukraine.
• Emily Thornberry and other members, including Calum Miller and Richard Tice, pressed for more action on seizing Russian assets, showing a degree of impatience but not outright opposition to the government’s strategy. The Foreign Secretary responded by explaining the need for multilateral action without any opposition.
• There were minor points of contention, such as the questioning of the decision not to deploy UK strike capabilities against Houthi targets, but these were addressed with explanations rather than escalating into conflict.
• The discussion on Israel and Gaza saw the most disagreement, with Jeremy Corbyn questioning the UK’s arms sales to Israel, but even in this case, the disagreement was handled with a factual response from the Foreign Secretary without any escalation into heated debate.

Overall, the session was characterized by a high level of agreement and collaboration, focusing on pressing the government for action rather than opposing its policies.