According to the German foreign minister, the G7 has “come alive again”
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said ahead of his flight to London that the meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers, which begins Monday in London, would be the first chance for participants to deepen dialogue after the change of power in the United States.
“The G7 has come alive again. This is our first meeting in this format after three years – not only as foreign ministers, but also as a community of values”, – Maas told reporters. – “It is high time, because in those three years the world has not stopped there, and those who want to transform the world according to completely different values have not been waiting for us”, – the minister said.
The foreign minister also warned against “cynical vaccine diplomacy” in the face of a coronavirus pandemic and said the G7 was funding a 77% vaccination campaign in poorer countries. He said the G7 was seeking “global trade based on fair and transparent rules for all, instead of bonded loans”.
“London is the first opportunity for an in-depth strategic exchange since the Biden administration took office. We want to use this chance”, – the German minister said.