From 12 to 14 March 2025, Canada will be hosting a G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Charlevoix – a town just under a four-hour drive northwest of Montreal. It is their second such meeting this year, after the initial one on the margins of the Munich Security Conference. In view of the turbulent times the world is experiencing, Foreign Ministers will engage in two days’ worth of intensive discussions and coordination: how can we achieve peace in Ukraine? How can we continue to shore up Ukraine’s defences against Russia’s brutal war of aggression? How can the situation in the Middle East be stabilised? How can security and stability be maintained in the Indo-Pacific region, for the benefit of all? These and other issues will take centre stage over the next two days.

The G7 stands united

50 years after its founding, the G7 faces tremendous challenges. Although it may not seem so in retrospect, the unity of the G7 was never a matter of course; rather, it has needed to be achieved and firmly reasserted over and over again. Yet despite our differences, we do have much in common.

Foreign Minister Baerbock issued the following statement prior to her departure:

Standing steadfastly alongside Ukraine

For more than three years, Ukrainians have been bravely defending themselves against Russia’s brutal attacks and air strikes on all of their country. Since Russia's invasion, the G7 has been an important hub for coordinating support for Ukraine. In the G7, we have jointly taken key decisions with regard to, for example, financial assistance and arms supplies to Ukraine, as well as comprehensive economic sanctions on Russia. When countries such as Iran, North Korea and China join up to provide support for Russia, then we as the G7 are all the more called on to rally in support of Ukraine during this difficult phase. At their meeting in Charlevoix, Foreign Ministers will discuss how Ukraine can best be supported with a view to paving the way for a just and lasting peace.

The situation in the Near and Middle East

Even more than 500 days after the horrific terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, several dozen hostages are still in the hands of Hamas. At the same time, the humanitarian situation of people in Gaza is disastrous. Recently, the Israeli Government has again stopped the delivery of humanitarian aid and cut off the Strip’s electricity supply. Discussions in Charlevoix will therefore focus not only on how the ceasefire can be maintained and an agreement on the release of the hostages reached, but will also be about the issue of humanitarian assistance for Gaza and, from a long-term point of view, the reconstruction of the Strip. The reconstruction plan of Arab neighbouring states plays a major role here, and it deserves support from the G7 – because the plan points the way to how Gaza can, in realistic terms, be rebuilt, and it could also facilitate the swift and sustainable improvement of the catastrophic living conditions that people in Gaza are currently facing. Foreign Ministers will also discuss the situation in Syria.

Stability in the Indo-Pacific region and global maritime security

International shipping routes are the arteries of global trade. When an incident occurs, there is the risk that the entire system will grind to a devastating halt. Security and prosperity of G7 countries therefore strongly depend on security and stability in the Indo-Pacific, as a substantial portion of global trade flows through this region. This is why, within the G7, we campaign for unrestricted freedom of navigation, also in the Indo‑Pacific region, on the basis of international maritime law. Moreover, we are proponents of expanding security and defence cooperation with strategic partners in the region. An important share of the world's critical infrastructure is located underwater. Foreign Ministers will therefore discuss how undersea cables and pipelines can be better protected from acts of sabotage.