Paris (France) (AFP) - G7 foreign ministers meet Monday and Tuesday in Paris as US allies seek to avoid a new escalation between Washington and Tehran and press for a settlement that ends the war in Ukraine.

Published on: 09/11/2026 - 07:05

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed his participation in the meetings on Monday and Tuesday, along with his German counterparts Johan Vadifol, British Ed Miliband, Canadian Anita Anand, Frenchman Jean-Noel Barrot, Italian Antonio Taiani, and Japanese Toshimitsu Motegi, noting that in March, he only participated for one day.

The meeting will be held at the headquarters of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris instead of the city of Marseille, following a change that occurred at the last minute due to considerations related to the agenda, according to the official clarification.

The Middle East will be a central issue in the talks, as was the case during the seven-nation meetings in March, with a particular focus on maritime security, the Strait of Hormuz, and energy issues, according to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Within the G7, the United States finds itself isolated since it launched strikes on Iran in February with Israel, to which the Islamic Republic responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which a large part of the global supply of oil and liquefied natural gas passes, causing a sharp rise in energy prices.

The scope of the war expanded rapidly in the Middle East, as Hezbollah in Lebanon opened a front with Israel, which responded with a massive raid campaign and a ground incursion into the south, while Iran responded to the American bombing by targeting countries in the region.

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

Paris seeks to establish a mechanism within a few weeks that will guarantee an international presence after the end of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force operating in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) on December 31.

This will be Rubio's first foreign trip since the Democrats' landslide victory in the midterm elections in the United States, which gave them control of both chambers of Congress as of January.

After the midterm elections

The G7 ministers' meeting will provide a first opportunity for Washington's allies to evaluate the directions of the Donald Trump administration and monitor any possible shifts in its foreign policy, especially with regard to Ukraine, which is another major file on the agenda of the discussions.

The meeting coincides with talks between Moscow and Kiev, mediated by the United States, scheduled to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, with the aim of finding a settlement to end the war in Ukraine.

The Europeans in the G7 will seek to evaluate the consequences of the midterm elections on American support for Kiev, policy towards Russia, and the existing debate about European strategic independence.

They also intend to impose their presence again in the upcoming negotiations.

Barrow confirmed on Sunday to RTL/Public Sina that “the Europeans will be well represented” and that “France will be present in Abu Dhabi to participate in these discussions,” without providing further details.

Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's envoy, said last Thursday that the United States will "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 towards a broader multilateral formula with their direct participation."

On the sidelines of the G7 work dedicated to Ukraine, the French Ministry of Economy and Finance is hosting a donors’ conference on Monday to support the repair of the protective dome that prevents leaks at the Chernobyl nuclear plant.

In Marseille (south), a network of 14 international ports will be officially launched on Monday with the aim of combating drug trafficking.

With the aim of expanding the scope of the work of the limited-member Group of Seven, France invited the foreign ministers of Brazil, South Korea, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine.

This meeting will be one of the last milestones under the French presidency of the G7 before it moves to the United States.

© 2026 AFP

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