The Group of Seven (G7) sent a strong, unified warning to countries that threaten the international order, including Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.
G7 foreign ministers condemned Russia's military provocations and signaled additional sanctions. They also made clear that Hamas must be excluded from Gaza's future and directly criticized China for flexing power along its neighbors' borders. On North Korea, they reaffirmed their standing position that complete denuclearization and the abduction issue must be resolved immediately.
On the 23rd (local time), G7 foreign ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, along with the European Union (EU) high representative, gathered in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly and issued a joint statement announcing the G7's common stance on key international issues.
The G7 first sharpened its criticism toward Russia. In the statement, they condemned as unacceptable and potentially harmful to international security Russia's recent incursions into the airspace of Estonia, Poland and Romania. It was a warning that they would not stand by as Russia escalates its provocations by violating even the airspace of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states.
The G7 also reaffirmed its pledge of support for Ukraine. They said they will continue working with the United States to provide strong and credible security assurances to Ukraine. To that end, they discussed additional economic pressure on Russia. In particular, by mentioning measures against "third-country enablers," they suggested that countries helping Russia evade sanctions could also be targeted. They also formally raised the option of using frozen Russian overseas asset to support Ukraine.
They also set out clear principles on the Middle East. The G7 urged the easing of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. At the same time, they strongly condemned Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and made clear that "Hamas can play no role in Gaza's future and must never again pose a threat to Israel." They added that they were ready to work with Arab partner countries for Gaza's postwar reconstruction and peacebuilding that excludes Hamas.
On Iran's nuclear issue, they raised pressure by pulling out the "snapback" card. The G7 demanded that Iran fulfill its obligations under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). They then said they support the decision by the three European countries (the United Kingdom, France and Germany) to invoke, under a U.N. Security Council resolution, the snapback provision that automatically restores past sanctions on Iran. Experts said this move warns that strong sanctions will follow if Iran does not return to the nuclear deal.
The G7 did not specify a particular country in the statement, but it effectively carried a clear message aimed at China. Emphasizing the importance of a "free and open Indo-Pacific," they said they strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion, including in the East China Sea, the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. The G7 thus reached a consensus on China's recent moves that heighten military tensions in places such as the Taiwan Strait.
On North Korea, they reaffirmed existing principles. The G7 specified that they reaffirm their commitment to North Korea's complete denuclearization and the immediate resolution of the abduction issue. In addition, the G7 said they formed a consensus that the United Nations, marking its 80th anniversary, needs fundamental reform.