Fuggi and Anagni will serve as a stage for international diplomacy for two days: today and tomorrow, the G7 foreign ministers' meeting is taking place here under the guidance of Minister Antonio Tajani. The current discussions will conclude the G7 ministerial meetings under Italy's presidency before passing the baton to Canada.
This is the second meeting of G7 foreign ministers to be held in Italy in 2024, and it marks the first summit after Donald Trump's reelection to the White House. The first meeting took place in Capri in April of last year.
The return of the Republican candidate to one of the most important positions in the world suggests, according to many, rather bleak scenarios, but for the G7 countries, it is essential to maintain strong ties with Washington.
"The United States remains our main ally in ensuring international stability in the world," the Deputy Prime Minister stated on Monday at the summit in Brussels.
Tajani emphasized that the EU needs to play a leading role on the international stage and become more self-sufficient while working to ensure that the new Trump administration remains committed to the transatlantic partnership.
The G7 agenda in Lazio includes significant international issues. Five sessions will address the situation in the Middle East and the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the political balance in the Indo-Pacific region, and the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukraine at the G7 table. "Support and closeness to Kyiv"
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha will be present at the meeting in Fuggi and Anagni. This was announced by the head of Farnesina last week during the sidelines of the Italy-Ukraine business forum.
"A thousand days after the start of the Russian invasion, when tens of thousands of people have died on both fronts due to the malicious choices of President Vladimir Putin, we, as the country presiding over the G7, would like to promote a declaration of support and closeness to Kyiv from the heads of government," the Deputy Prime Minister said after the forum concluded last Wednesday.
"We are witnessing a very brutal Russian offensive and are convinced that this closeness to the Ukrainian people is very important," he added.
The Italian presidency intends to confirm "full G7 support for Kyiv in military, political, economic, and financial terms. This is aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace" in connection with the Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine, which will take place in July 2025 in Rome.
The crisis in the Gaza Strip is also a "priority".
Significant attention is also being paid to the situation in the Middle East. According to the UN, the number of families in refugee camps in the Gaza Strip who cannot afford more than one meal a day is "sharply increasing." This indicates, in the view of the UN, that dozens of people are suffering from hunger.
The serious humanitarian situation that has developed over the past year following the terrorist attack by the militant group HAMAS on October 7, 2023, and the tensions in relations between Israel and Lebanon require special attention from states.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, "the crisis in the region is a priority for the Italian presidency in the G7."
We must maintain an open dialogue with all parties, urging them to exercise restraint and strive for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the release of hostages."
Antonio Tajani emphasizes the humanitarian situation and the need to continue supporting the Unifil mission. For Farnesina, it is necessary to "promote reliable political horizons for the region that guarantee peace and security, with a view to 'two peoples, two states.'
The aim of the ministers from Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America is to strengthen the role of the G7 in promoting international stability and finding solutions to global crises.
The group will also include the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
Stability in the Indo-Pacific region, trade with China, and the situation in Georgia following the recent elections are also expected to be discussed.
According to the Italian Foreign Minister, it is necessary to "maintain a constructive dialogue with the Georgian authorities while simultaneously demanding clarity regarding the violations reported during the voting."
The meetings will conclude on Tuesday afternoon with a press conference presenting the final statements.