U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in France on Friday for a high-stakes G7 meeting, as tensions in the Middle East escalate and global energy risks deepen. The talks come amid growing pressure on Washington to de-escalate the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The meeting of G7 foreign ministers is expected to focus heavily on the rapidly deteriorating security situation, with allies increasingly concerned about the risk of wider regional instability. The war in Ukraine is also on the agenda, though the Middle East crisis is dominating discussions.
Rubio is likely to face calls from key partners including the United Kingdom, Germany and France to push for restraint, as fears grow that the conflict could disrupt global markets and trigger further military escalation.
During his flight to France, Rubio stressed the importance of stabilizing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy supply. Iran has effectively blocked the passage, sending fuel prices higher and raising concerns over supply shortages.
Around 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows through the strait, making any disruption a direct threat to global economic stability. G7 ministers have already signaled they are prepared to take “necessary measures” to safeguard energy flows.
In parallel, Yvette Cooper said a rapid resolution is essential to restore regional stability, highlighting the urgency among Western governments to contain the crisis before it spreads further.
At a meeting a day earlier, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called for a unified Western position alongside Washington, warning that fragmented messaging could weaken diplomatic efforts.
The gathering comes just hours after Donald Trump renewed his criticism of NATO, accusing allies of doing “nothing” to address the crisis, further exposing divisions within the Western alliance at a critical moment.