The Declaration of the summit of G7 leaders at the Italian hotel ‘Borgo Egnazia’ has included a strong defense of Ukraine, with a multimillion-dollar loan guaranteed by Russian assets, as well as a democratic warning to Venezuela and the disappearance of the word “abortion”, among many other topics.
The leaders of the group of the most industrialized democracies on the planet – Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom – have addressed the most pressing issues of the increasingly turbulent world geopolitics.
These are the keys to a 36-page document resulting from intense negotiations.
Loan to kyiv from Russian assets
The first agreement of this G7 has been a loan to the Ukrainian resistance of 46,000 million euros that will be financed with the interests generated from Russian assets frozen around the world, mostly in the European Union.
Moscow has warned of consequences “extremely painful” by this measure.
“Robust actions” against Chinese entities that help Russia
The leaders also announced their commitment to punish with “robust actions” to the Chinese banks that are helping the Kremlin avoid Western sanctions and the Chinese companies that help it access technology to manufacture weapons.
Although today they did not announce any punishment against Chinese entities, they promised to take “restrictive measures” according to their legal systems, which could range from sanctions to export controls.
China’s “unfair” trade practices
Leaders also expressed concern about business practices “unfair” from China and assured that, although they do not want to impede the growth of the Asian giant, they want Beijing to abide by the rules that govern international trade.
“We are not trying to harm China or impede its economic development, in fact a rising China that plays by international rules and norms would be in the global interest.”, they assure.
Hamas must accept the ceasefire and Israel limit escalation in Rafah
On the Middle East, the G7 calls on Hamas to accept the ceasefire agreement for Gaza included in US President Joe Biden’s plan, and urges “countries that have influence” over the Islamist group to “to help ensure that it does”
Furthermore, Israel must “refrain from carrying out” a “large scale military offensive” in Rafah, which “would have even more dire consequences for civilians”, when the war has already claimed more than 37,000 lives in the Strip.
Threatens Iran for supporting Russia in Ukraine
In this region, G7 leaders warned Iran to “respond quickly and coordinated, including with new and important measures” if Tehran continues to support Russia in the Ukraine war with “ballistic missiles and related technology”, which implies “a direct threat to European security”.
Also “demand” that “put an end to its malicious activities and destabilizing actions in the Middle East”.
Clean elections in Venezuela
The Italian presidency in office has wanted to dedicate special attention to Latin America and, therefore, the Group has asked Venezuela for free elections on July 28 with observers, respecting the Barbados Agreement, and to put an end to the harassment of opponents the arrest of all political prisoners.
In addition, the territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana over the Essequibo region was addressed and demanding that Caracas “refrain from new destabilizing initiatives”. “The matter must be resolved peacefully, in accordance with international law”, he concluded.
The “abortion” controversy
The ‘Borgo Egnazia’ summit has been clouded by the defense of abortion, a word that finally does not appear in the final declaration. The far-right Meloni and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, at ideological opposites, have exchanged statements on this issue.
Finally, the leaders have limited themselves to revalidating their commitment to the Hiroshima declaration of last year, in which they committed to “address access to legal abortion and post-abortion care”.
The agreed text has been: “We reiterate our commitments to the ‘Hiroshima Leaders’ Communiqué’ for universal access to adequate, affordable and quality health services for women, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights for all”, without mentioning the word.
The Houthis and the Red Sea
The G7 advocates for “freedom of navigation in the Red Sea” and the liberation “immediate” of the crew of the cargo ship ‘Galaxy Leader’, held captive since November 19, 2023, when the “Houthi” rebels landed a helicopter on the ship, which was seized and diverted to the Yemeni port of Al Hodeida.
Source: Gestion
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