Paris Includes Lebanon and Maritime Security in G7 Summit Priorities

European foreign ministers seek to urge Washington to avoid new escalation with Iran and ensure a fair settlement for Ukraine during the Group of Seven meeting in Paris on Monday, amid fears of US rapprochement with Moscow and stalled talks with Tehran.

Pivotal File

The Middle East will be a pivotal file in the discussions, as was the case during the G7 meetings in March, with a specific focus on maritime security, the Strait of Hormuz, and energy issues, according to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The United States finds itself isolated within the G7 since launching strikes on Iran with Israel in February, which Tehran responded to by closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass, causing a sharp rise in energy prices.

Trump has not ruled out launching new strikes on Iran, including targeting a site known as "Mount Kolang," suspected to be a nuclear facility, which Tehran denies.

However, the US president eased some concerns by telling CNN that resuming fighting is "highly unlikely" as long as talks continue.

For his part, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned against making no progress in talks with Iran, considering that Tehran's demands are "not only unacceptable, but some are absurd, scandalous, and completely unrealistic."

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said: "We certainly cannot afford any military escalation at this stage," adding that the G7 talks "will focus on identifying ways to ensure it is actually avoided."

Lebanon Diplomatic Priority

For France, Lebanon represents the most urgent diplomatic priority at present, and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that this file will be discussed during the summit.

Paris seeks to establish a mechanism within a few weeks to guarantee an international presence after the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) ends on December 31.

This will be Rubio's first foreign trip since the sweeping Democratic victory in the US midterm elections, which gave them control of both chambers of Congress starting in January.

Rubio said, referring to Democratic control of Congress, "It is not unusual to have divided government in this country."

European Concerns Regarding Ukraine

The G7 foreign ministers' meeting will provide a first opportunity for Washington's allies to assess the directions of Donald Trump's administration and monitor potential shifts in its foreign policy, especially regarding Ukraine, which is another key file on the agenda.

The meeting coincides with talks between Moscow and Kyiv mediated by the US, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, aiming to find a settlement that ends the war in Ukraine.

Europeans fear that Kyiv may be forced to accept unfavorable terms in any settlement, or that Washington may offer new security guarantees to Russia without consulting them.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said upon heading to the talks: "For Europe, the matter is clear... we do not need to create a new security architecture for Europe," adding that Europe should have a seat at the negotiating table.

Trump raised fears of US rapprochement with the Kremlin after predicting a very large agreement with Russia, including not just Ukraine but "all of Europe."

But Rubio said before leaving for Paris that Europe's post-war security architecture is one of the main topics repeatedly raised in every conversation about negotiations, adding, "Obviously, we must get past the conflict first to reach that stage."

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told RTL/Public Sénat channel on Sunday that "Europeans will be well represented, and France will be present in Abu Dhabi to participate in these discussions," without providing further details.

Donald Trump's envoy Jared Kushner said last Thursday that the US would consult closely with its European partners on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi talks, adding that "if progress is made, the goal will be to move toward a broader multilateral format with their direct participation."

On the sidelines of the G7 activities dedicated to Ukraine, the French Ministry of Economy and Finance hosts a donors' conference on Monday to support the repair of the protective dome that prevents leaks at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

The French Ministry of Finance told AFP that repair work requires approximately €500 million, of which slightly more than half has been raised so far, with the remaining amount to be collected by spring 2027.

In Marseille (south), a network comprising 14 ports worldwide will officially launch on Monday to combat drug trafficking.

To expand the scope of the G7's work, France invited the foreign ministers of Brazil, South Korea, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine.

This meeting will form one of the last major milestones under the French presidency of the G7 before it transitions to the United States.