EAM Jaishankar's Visit to France for G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
On March 26, Paris welcomed External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, who arrived to participate in the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. During his visit, he is anticipated to engage in pivotal bilateral talks with several of his international counterparts.
"I have arrived at Abbaye des-Vaux-de-Cernay, France to take part in the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting along with Partner Nations. I was graciously welcomed by France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot for my inaugural bilateral meeting," EAM Jaishankar shared on X.
His two-day visit is part of the discussions initiated at the invitation of Barrot, focusing on critical global matters such as the persistent conflict in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.
According to a statement from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, "On the issues concerning Iran and the Middle East, partners will explore negotiation avenues to foster de-escalation, ensure civilian safety, restore maritime and trade routes, and halt the Iranian regime’s nuclear and ballistic programs."
Regarding Ukraine, the G7 members are set to reaffirm their commitment to support Kyiv with energy resources and military capabilities while intensifying pressure on Russia, particularly concerning its shadow fleet.
The ministers will also tackle various regional matters, including the Indo-Pacific, Sudan, Haiti, Gaza, and Venezuela and Cuba, in light of the developments since the beginning of 2026.
The statement further indicates that France and its allies aim to collaborate on raising international funds to repair the damaged confinement structure at Chernobyl, which suffered extensive damage from a Russian strike in 2025. They also intend to organize a regional conference to combat Captagon trafficking in Syria and discuss the economic integration of the Middle East.
Additionally, the ministers will form a G7 task force aimed at establishing a network of ports among G7 and partner nations to combat drug trafficking. Another priority will be the organization of a regional security conference in the Caribbean, to be held in Martinique in July 2026, and to arrange the fifth "No Money for Terror" conference in Paris on May 19, 2026, to address terrorist financing. Lastly, discussions will cover securing critical mineral supply chains, following up on dialogues that occurred during the Canadian G7 Presidency.