After our exchange in Munich, this will be our second meeting in the G7 under Canada’s Presidency and with the new US administration. Such close dialogue is not only important, but urgently required. Since Putin brought war to Europe, the G7 has been our workhorse in crisis management as it is a powerful and reliable format. The fact that Putin has still not achieved his war aims in Ukraine is due first and foremost to the courage of the Ukrainians, but it is also thanks to the united support of the G7. After all, the path to peace is one of strength and unity – a language that Putin understands.

The G7’s message has been as clear as it is simple: our cooperation brings stability and security. And we Europeans are strong and reliable partners in this regard, with a clear stance and clear actions. We will do more to promote our security and defence in Europe in the future. After all, a new age of ruthlessness has dawned. A time when those around the world who do not share our values, who do not want peace, who believe only in the law of the strong, are watching very closely to see whether we are able to maintain our unity and rules-based order.

The G7 continues to play a vital role. While we may have our differences, we will, at the end of the day, be judged by whether we find answers to the key security issues of our time. It is clear that the challenges posed by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, China’s actions in the Indo-Pacific and the crises in the Middle East are closely bound up with the security of us all. Our common interests in these issues are our shared compass.