G7 Foreign Ministers Convene in Paris with Saudi Arabia and Egypt to Address Middle East Tensions

Saudi Arabia and Egypt are set to participate in a two-day gathering of the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers in Paris, commencing Monday. The primary objective of this meeting is to explore strategies for de-escalating escalating hostilities within the Middle East. This comes in the wake of Iran's intensified attacks on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, fueling wider concerns about the ongoing deadlock between the United States and Iran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, en route to France, downplayed the likelihood of a breakthrough agreement to end the conflict, an issue that contributed to voters' dissatisfaction with US President Donald Trump's Republican party in the recent midterm elections. "I wouldn't say we're on the verge of a breakthrough," Mr. Rubio stated. "Right now, it's not been very productive because Iranian demands are simply not just unacceptable but in some cases outrageous, ridiculous and really not realistic." The meeting is hosted by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who will welcome counterparts from the G7 nations, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Mr. Rubio is scheduled to attend a dinner on Monday evening, hosted by Minister Barrot for his counterparts from the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Japan, and Italy. The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and Egypt, Badr Abdelatty, will also be in attendance. French diplomats indicated that no formal agenda has been set for the minister-only session to ensure the freest possible exchange of ideas. Brazil and South Korea have also received invitations. Saudi Arabia has been receiving military backing from Britain and France, alongside support from Makkah pact allies Turkey and Pakistan, in its efforts to counter Houthi attacks on its airports, ports, and oil infrastructure. Egypt is considered a crucial G7 partner concerning food security, a sector significantly impacted by Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz. G7 foreign ministers will reconvene with their Middle East counterparts on Tuesday to deliberate on regional stability. A key focus will be Iran's interference with maritime passage in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab Al Mandeb strait, according to French diplomats. A joint French-British initiative aimed at safeguarding vessel passage through Hormuz is prepared for deployment once security conditions permit, with over a dozen ships already positioned, including contributions from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Discussions are also slated to cover crises in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria during the Middle East-focused session. While European influence in Middle Eastern crises is currently limited, G7 European ministers are keen to gauge the impact of the midterm election results on US policy concerning Ukraine and the Middle East, beyond the Iran conflict. The US has been a primary opponent of a French-Italian proposal to replace the United Nations peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon, which is set to conclude its mandate by year's end. G7 bilateral meetings are anticipated to provide a platform for European ministers to emphasize the emerging security vacuum in south Lebanon, which is under Israeli occupation. Paris believes that Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, has been weakened by Israeli military actions but is currently in the process of rearming. US-brokered negotiations between Lebanon and Israel have thus far failed to yield a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. The G7 representatives will also engage in discussions regarding the war in Ukraine, with the participation of Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, in anticipation of the Ukraine-Russia peace talks scheduled for Tuesday in Abu Dhabi. Senior officials from France, Germany, the UK, and the European Commission will be present, aiming to influence the US-brokered discussions. "The EU will be present alongside our partners," stated European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a post on X, following her conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "I reiterated my support for his call for a ceasefire covering food and energy infrastructure."