Foreign ministers from the G7 countries today hit out at rivals Russia, China and Iran in a series of bold statements amid a meeting of Western-aligned allies in Italy.
The meeting came hours after Israel appeared to strike a major air base and a nuclear site near the Iranian city of Isfahan – a response to Tehran’s unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country last weekend.
The G7 pledged support for Israel’s security and condemned ‘in the strongest terms’ what the foreign ministers described as Iran’s ‘unprecedented attack against Israel of April 13-14’, announcing it is ready to adopt more sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Rounding on Beijing, the ministers declared ‘strong concern’ that Chinese businesses were transferring dual-use materials and weapons components to Russia.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused China of ‘fuelling’ the Ukraine war by helping Moscow’s ‘most ambitious defence expansion since the Soviet era’, according to Washington.
And finally, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Western governments are reviewing the possibility of using Russian assets frozen in Europe to replenish Ukraine’s war chest as Vladimir Putin’s forces continue to make gains in the Donbas.
The West has locked down around £260 billion worth of assets, with European countries now examining whether they could legally create a ‘game-changing’ slush fund of sorts to fuel Kyiv’s war effort.
The G7 meeting in Capri was fiercely protested by pro-Palestinian activists who clashed with riot police outside the gates of the venue.
(L-R) Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani walks with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and British Secretary for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron during the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, in Capri, Italy, 19 April 2024
Foreign ministers from the G7 countries today hit out at rivals Russia , China and Iran in a series of bold statements amid a meeting of Western-aligned allies in Italy (L-R: Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused China of ‘fuelling’ the Ukraine war by helping Moscow’s ‘most ambitious defence expansion since the Soviet era’
Pro-Palestinian activists clash with police, as they try to embark on a ferry to protest G7 meeting on Capri Island, at a port in Naples, Italy, April 19, 2024
Speaking on the Italian island of Capri, ministers from the US, UK, France, Germany, Canada, Japan and Italy warned of new sanctions against Iran for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and 유로247가입주소 urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.