The group of economically strong democracies is campaigning for more air defense for Kiev and greater isolation of Tehran. It should be a signal to Moscow and the mullahs. Does it work?
Capri - In view of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the Group of Seven major Western industrial nations (G7) wants to send a signal of unity.
At their spring meeting on the Italian Mediterranean island of Capri, the foreign ministers discussed further military support for Kiev against Russian attacks from the air. In addition, after the major Iranian attack on Israel, there were further sanctions against Tehran - also with the aim of preventing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from launching a large-scale counterattack.
At the meeting, which lasted until Friday, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) called on partners to provide Ukraine with additional air defense systems. Germany is currently preparing to deliver a third Patriot system. Italy currently chairs the group. Other members include the USA, Canada, Great Britain, France and Japan as well as the EU. For the first time, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was invited as an official guest.
Baerbock on the Middle East: Isolate Iran more
On the second major topic of the meeting, Baerbock called for a tougher course against Tehran. “Iran must be isolated. And at the same time, there must be no further escalation." She added: "That would be fatal for the people: in Israel, in the West Bank, in Lebanon, in the entire region." Israel, which carried out the attack at the weekend with the help of partners in the region, achieved a “defensive victory”. “And this now needs to be secured diplomatically.”
The host of the meeting, Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, assured Israel of support on behalf of all G7 countries. “We are friends of Israel. We support Israel,” he said. At the same time, he urged both sides to de-escalate. It is feared that a major Israeli counterattack could lead to a conflagration across the entire region, extending far beyond the Gaza war that has been going on for six months.
In the debate about further sanctions against Iran, EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell spoke out in favor of finally implementing or expanding existing punitive measures for the delivery of drones to Russia. “The important thing is often the implementation of a decision,” said the Spaniard.
Baerbock sees hopeful signs from the USA
Baerbock also wanted to promote the delivery of additional Patriot units at a two-way meeting with her US colleague Antony Blinken. The Green politician previously said: “In these stormy times, it is a hopeful sign that there are now signals from the USA from the Republicans that support for Ukraine can continue to be intensive.”
Blinken also met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who was also a guest. Kuleba subsequently reported on Platform X that they discussed in detail efforts to bring more Patriot air defense systems and missiles to Ukraine as quickly as possible. He appealed to the US Congress to finally pass an additional aid package. “This will be a sign of strength and confidence and will allow Ukraine to save lives and improve the situation on the battlefield.”
In the US, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on Saturday on the long-delayed $61 billion aid package for Kiev. Washington also said that President Joe Biden should make long-range ATACMS missile systems available to Ukraine “as soon as practicable.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj also repeatedly calls for Patriot anti-aircraft systems to ward off Russian missiles and drone attacks. To seal off the airspace, 25 systems, each with 6 to 8 batteries, are necessary.
EU Foreign Affairs Representative Borrell: Act quickly
Baerbock said that at the recent NATO meeting in Brussels they discussed very intensively “how we can now show our strength by supporting Ukraine with everything we have.” The USA played an important role in this. With regard to the US Republicans, she added that the federal government had “strongly advocated that the important and intensive support of the Americans continues to exist, with systems and also with financial resources.”
Borrell also urged quick action. “In the next few days, concrete decisions must be made to send more air defense to Ukraine.” Otherwise, Ukraine's electricity system will be destroyed. The EU should not rely solely on Washington, but must take responsibility itself. “We have Patriots. We have anti-missile systems. We have to take them out of our barracks, where they are, and send them to Ukraine, where the war is raging.” dpa