G7 Summit Opens in France; Leaders to Discuss Hormuz Reopening

Evian, France, June 15 (Jiji Press)–Leaders of the Group of Seven major industrialized countries started a three-day summit in France on Monday night, with their talks seen focusing on cooperation to secure safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States plus the European Union began their talks at the eastern resort of Evian, just after the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to end their fighting. Summit participants are expected to discuss how to work together to ensure safe navigation in the strait, a key oil shipping chokepoint, which is expected to be reopened based on the U.S.-Iran deal, as they try to combat global inflation. At a working dinner held Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who made a G7 summit debut this time, U.S. President Donald Trump and other participants exchanged opinions on major international issues such as developments surrounding Iran. Trump apparently explained his country’s negotiations with Iran, while European leaders are believed to have shown their readiness to cooperate by dispatching naval vessels for mine removal and other activities in the strait. They reaffirmed that they must stop Iran’s nuclear development. Ahead of the summit’s opening, French President Emmanuel Macron said that vessels from France, Britain, Italy and the Netherlands are standing by in waters near the strait, ready to do what they can. Japan is expected to provide support after examining the situation. Takaichi made a proposal to jointly stockpile key minerals including rare earths for supply chain stability. She also explained Japan’s position on the situation in the Indo-Pacific region, where China is showing increasingly hegemonic moves. The G7 leaders agreed to tackle the problems together, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry. On the second day of the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders from Middle East countries including Egypt and Qatar will join. Participants are expected to discuss regional issues. Major topics on final day are likely to include global economic imbalances and artificial intelligence-related risks. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]