U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to travel to France this week to persuade skeptical allies of the Group of Seven (G7) regarding the U.S. strategy against Iran, which has contributed to rising global fuel prices, the State Department announced Tuesday.
Rubio will attend a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting near Versailles on Friday, aiming “to advance core U.S. interests” and “to discuss shared security concerns and opportunities for cooperation,” according to the Department.
“The focus will be on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the situation in the Middle East, and global threats to peace and stability,” the statement added, amid conflicting reports about whether the U.S. and Iran are engaging in talks to resolve the conflict.
Several other G7 nations — the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan — have reacted coolly to the U.S.-Israel military operation against Iran and initially refused participation, prompting criticism from former President Donald Trump, who nevertheless insists the U.S. does not require their assistance.
Trump has also criticized some G7 members and NATO allies for not responding to his calls to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though recent reports indicate some nations are willing to support measures to restore normal maritime traffic through this critical route.
