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Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto speaks during a property league astatine the G7 Ministers' Meeting connected defence successful Naples, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP)
Defence ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) precocious democracies person reiterated their enactment for Ukraine’s “irreversible” NATO membership, portion voicing alarm implicit threats to UN peacekeepers successful Lebanon amid escalating tensions with Israel.
The meeting, the archetypal ever G7 league focused connected defence, occurred arsenic hostilities betwixt Israel and Hezbollah flared. The struggle reached Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence, with a drone reportedly targeting his vacation home.
Italy, which holds the G7 presidency for 2024, hosted the lawsuit successful Naples. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto stated that the G7 unsocial could not resoluteness planetary conflicts but should enactment arsenic a catalyst for broader planetary action. He emphasised, “The G7 indispensable beryllium similar a gadfly that has the spot to sting the remainder of the world.”
The summit, attended by representatives from NATO, the European Union, and Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, besides touched connected different planetary tensions. These included Russia’s penetration of Ukraine, China’s subject drills astir Taiwan, and heightened tensions connected the Korean Peninsula.
In their last communiqué, the G7 reaffirmed enactment for Ukraine’s way towards “full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership.” However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s caller petition for an contiguous NATO rank invitation was not granted.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius expressed interest implicit North Korea’s engagement successful the conflict, stating that its assistance to Russia indicated the war’s expanding planetary reach. The G7 besides criticised China’s enactment for Moscow and subject actions adjacent Taiwan.
Calls for a ceasefire successful Gaza dominated portion of the discussions. Demonstrators successful Naples, supporting Palestine, clashed with constabulary portion calling for an contiguous cessation of hostilities. The G7’s declaration echoed these sentiments, demanding a ceasefire and the merchandise of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, informing that ongoing retaliation could pb to “uncontrollable escalation successful the Middle East.”
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin called for Israel to standard backmost its strikes successful Beirut, noting that Israel assured him it had nary volition of targeting UN peacekeepers stationed successful Lebanon. Italy, a large contributor to the UNIFIL mission, has been peculiarly vocal successful defending the UN forces, particularly aft Israeli actions that angered Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during her caller sojourn to Lebanon and Jordan.
(with inputs from Reuters)
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