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G-7 Foreign Ministers Meet in London as Russia, China Top Agenda

Henry Ridgwell

   LONDON - Foreign ministers of the Group ofSeven(G-7)industrialized
   nations are meeting in London this week, with climate change, Russia
   and China among the challenges topping the agenda. It is the first
   face-to-face G-7 meeting in two years, after the coronavirus pandemic
   forced the Pittsburgh 2020 foreign ministers'meeting to be held via
   video link.

   Russia was ejected from what was then the G-8 in 2014, after its
   forceful annexation of Crimea.

   U.S. Secretary of State AntonyBlinkenon Mondaycondemned Moscow's recent
   deployment of troops on Ukraine's border.

   "We are focused very much on Russia's actions and what course it
   chooses to take,"Blinkentold reportersin London."President Biden has
   been very clear for a long time, including before he was president,
   that if Russia chooses to act recklessly or aggressively, we'll
   respond. But we are not looking to escalate. We would prefer to have a
   more stable, more predictable relationship."
   FILE - Chinese staffers adjust U.S. and Chinese flags before a session
   of negotiations between U.S. and Chinese trade representatives, at the
   Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, in Beijing, China, Feb. 14, 2019.

   China challenge

   Thesecretary ofstate also addressed the challenge posed by China.

   "It is not our purpose to try to contain China or to hold China down,"
   saidBlinken."What we are trying to do is to uphold the international
   rules-based order that our countries have invested so much in over so
   many decades to the benefit, I would argue, not just of our own
   citizens but of people around the world, including, by the way, China."

   Chinese state media accused the United States on Tuesday
   of"deliberately hyping up the so-called'China threat'''and attempting
   to"sow discord between China and the world."

   But theG-7 issimplyupholding the principles enshrined at its foundation
   in 1975, saidanalyst John Kirton of the G7 Research Group at the
   University of Toronto.

   Itsaim was"to protect within its own members, and promote globally, the
   values of open democracy and individual liberty. They were very much
   threatened by an expanding Russia above all in 1975. And they're still
   threatened by Russia today, but also China and other authoritarian
   regimes,"saidKirton.

   Britain, whichis hostingthe meeting,asitholds the rotating presidency
   of the G-7, also invited foreign ministers from Australia, India, South
   Africa and South Korea to the talks,a demonstration of London's focus
   on the Indo-Pacific region, Kirtonsaid.

   "What we are seeing is the birth of a broader democratic family. And if
   they're willing to put their countries'names on paper alongside the
   democratic seven, the G-7 itself, that will be an even more powerful
   signal,"he noted.
   FILE - U.S. soldiers load onto a U.S. military plane as they leave
   Afghanistan, at the U.S. base in Bagram, north of Kabul, Afghanistan,
   July 14, 2011.

   Global conflicts

   G-7 foreign ministers also discussed a coordinated response to the
   military coup in Myanmar and the violent crackdown on pro-democracy
   protests.

   The U.S. and NATOpulloutfrom Afghanistan, which began this month, was
   also on the agenda. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab
   deniedreportsU.S. allies felt ignored by Washington regarding
   thedecision to withdraw.

   "We've had very good consultation on this, and we continue that,"Raab
   told reporters Monday."We certainly see the priority is protecting our
   troops in the period between now and September,making sure that we
   preserve the ability to deal with counterterrorism, that the gains that
   were hard-won in Afghanistan are not lost,and alsoultimately promoting
   dialogue and a peace process that benefits all Afghans and leaves
   Afghanistan as stable as possible, as inclusive as possible."

   The European Union foreign policy chiefJosepBorrell updated delegates
   on negotiations with Iran over the future of the 2015 nuclear deal,
   which the Biden administration is considering rejoining.

   "I had the opportunity to talk with my colleagues about the situation
   of the negotiations of the JCPOA(Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action),
   the nuclear deal with Iran, sharing with Secretary of StateBlinkenthe
   situation of these negotiations, which are difficult but going on, and
   from Friday, we'll start a new round of these negotiations,"Borrell
   said Tuesday.
   A patient collapses as she is rushed on a cycle rickshaw outside a
   Gurudwara (Sikh Temple), which provides free oxygen to patients amid
   COVID-19 surge in Ghaziabad, India.

   Pandemic response

   G-7 foreign ministers also discussed the coronavirus pandemic and
   issued a statement calling for the recovery to focus on women's
   employment and girls'education.Theministers pledged to invest $15
   billionin the next two years to help women in developing countries find
   jobs, build sustainable businesses andweatherthe"devastating"economic
   effects ofCOVID-19.

   "They will also sign up to new global targets to get 40 million more
   girls into school and 20 million more girls reading by the age of 10 in
   low and lowermiddle-incomecountries by 2026,"the statement said.

   Campaigners are calling on the G-7 to ensure that poorer countries get
   access to coronavirus vaccines. The United Nations says close to 90%of
   all vaccines administered worldwide have gone to richer nations.

   The response to the pandemic willbea focuswhen Britain hosts the G-7
   leaders'summit in June, set to be Joe Biden's first overseas visit as
   U.S.president.

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