WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken is departing on Saturday for a diplomatic trip to Europe, which will include a gathering of foreign ministers from major industrialized nations to discuss the Middle East and Ukraine wars.
According to the State Department, Blinken will take part in bilateral discussions with the Group of Seven outside of Rome on Monday and Tuesday as the Biden administration comes to an end and there are worries that President-elect Donald Trump’s team will significantly change U.S. foreign policy.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the G7—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States—has been leading the way in offering military and financial support, and Democratic President Joe Biden wants to make sure that support is increased and maintained. G7 members are especially worried about Trump’s potential to alter American policy.
The billions of dollars that the Biden administration has invested in Ukraine have drawn criticism from Trump. Washington has recently increased arms transfers and forgiven billions of dollars in debts to Kyiv. In remarks that seem to imply he will pressure Ukraine to cede land currently occupied by Russia, the incoming Republican president claimed he could put an end to the conflict in a day.
Trump has appointed a number of fervently pro-Israel officials to the Middle East. The long-running conflict, which has been centered on Gaza for the past 13 months since Hamas initiated attacks within Israel, is anticipated to be resolved through a policy that heavily favors Israel above the hopes of the Palestinians and others for a two-state solution.
In order to have urgent talks about stopping the war in Gaza and establishing a system for governance, rebuilding, and security for the severely damaged territory when the combat is finished, a number of Arab foreign ministers are anticipated to join the G7 in Italy.
There have been many issues, but U.S. officials are working quickly to finish the structure’s formation before Biden leaves office in January. The International Criminal Court’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and senior Hamas officials most recently shook up efforts.
The G7 talks will also touch on Israel’s military actions against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. US officials express optimism that a cease-fire deal could result from a recent surge of diplomatic effort.
Blinken’s talks will touch on the G7’s relationship with China. In addition to trade disagreements that Trump has pledged to resolve by enacting significant taxes on Chinese goods, there are growing worries about Beijing’s aggression toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea.
Before heading back to Washington on Wednesday, Blinken will meet with Pope Francis and a number of his top aides in Vatican City.
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