"Iran Cannot Possess Nuclear Weapons…Israel Has Right to Self-Defense"

G7 Leaders Adopt Joint Statement

The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), including United States President Donald Trump, issued a joint statement on the 16th (local time) urging de-escalation to Iran, which is at war with Israel.

At the G7 summit being held in Kananaskis, Canada, the leaders declared in their joint statement, "We affirm that Israel has the right to defend itself." They also stated, "We have made it clear and consistent that Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons," and urged that "the resolution of the Iran crisis should lead to broader de-escalation in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza."

Although a joint statement was adopted, significant achievements regarding key agenda items at this G7 summit—such as tariffs and the response to the war in Ukraine—became difficult as President Trump returned to the United States earlier than scheduled. President Trump initially planned to attend the G7 summit from the 15th to the 17th for three days but departed on the evening of the 16th, a day early. As a result, meetings between President Lee Jae-myung, President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, and President Trump were successively canceled.

Other member countries, including Canada, which intended to discuss war and tariff issues at the G7 meeting, were left without tangible results. The European Union (EU) and its member states wanted to discuss imposing new sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine, but President Trump responded skeptically, saying, "Sanctions entail enormous costs."

Washington = Lee Sang-eun, correspondent selee@hankyung.com