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The group of the seven world powers concluded this November 4, in Germany, a summit in which they agreed on measures to address the main concerns on the international scene. The allies agreed on a mechanism to help Ukraine defend and repair its infrastructure from Russian attacks, condemned arbitrary arrests amid protests in Iran and warned of a joint response to the possible use of nuclear weapons by North Korea.
Russia, Iran and North Korea, in the sights of coordinated actions by the G7.
Germany, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, France and Italy agreed this Friday, November 4, to launch a device to help Ukraine rebuild its water and energy supplies. Ongoing Russian attacks on the nation’s crucial infrastructure leave millions of people in constant blackouts.
“We call on Russia to immediately stop its war of aggression against Ukraine and withdraw all its military forces and equipment (…) We condemn Russia’s recent escalation, including its attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, in particular energy and water using Iranian missiles and drones and trainers,” the group said in a joint statement at the end of the summit that began on Thursday, November 3, in Münster, Germany.
The assistance they promise to give kyiv to repel Russian assaults includes air defense systems, a senior US official said.
In recent weeks, the avalanche of shelling by Moscow troops on Ukrainian infrastructure has damaged up to 40% of the power system, local authorities say.
The alert is raised after this week US intelligence agencies indicated that senior Russian officials recently discussed how and when to use nuclear weapons on Ukrainian territory. Against this background, the G7 warned that there will be “severe consequences” if Moscow fulfills its threats.
“Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric is unacceptable. Any use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons by Russia would have serious consequences,” the text of the G7 statement said.
Major world powers have also urged Vladimir Putin’s government to renew the vital Ukrainian grain export deal, which is set to expire on November 19.
G7 condemns ‘brutal’ crackdown on Iran protests
The Western allies attacked the disproportionate use of force by the Iranian authorities, amid the wave of protests that began with the death of the young Mahsa Amini, after being arrested for not wearing the hijab “correctly”.
In the demonstrations, which later escalated into calls for the downfall of the country’s theocracy, around 14,000 people have been arrested and at least 270 people have been killed, according to the group Iran Human Rights Activists.
“We condemn the violent death of the young Iranian Mahsa Amini after her arrest by the so-called “moral police” of Iran. We further condemn the brutal and disproportionate use of force against children and peaceful protesters. We urge the Iranian authorities to comply with their international obligations under international law,” the seven powers said.
Likewise, the G7 highlighted its clear determination that Iran never develop an atomic weapon, due to “the incessant expansion of Iran’s nuclear program, which has no civil justification.”
To address that concern, Western countries pledged joint efforts with other international partners to mitigate Tehran’s nuclear escalation and insufficient cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over its Non-Proliferation Treaty safeguards agreement. (NPT).
G7: Any nuclear test by Pyongyang will have a “swift, united and forceful” response
The Islamic republic is not the only one that represents great challenges for the Western world due to its nuclear developments.
North Korea ups the ante after launching the most missiles in a single day against South Korea on Wednesday, November 2.
Alarms also went off in Japan on Thursday, November 3, when it fired at least three projectiles into its eastern waters, including an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
“We reiterate our demand that the DPRK abandon its nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs and any other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner,” the G7 said.
In case of continuing with those purposes, the powers promised a “rapid, united and solid response”. In this sense, they called on all States to effectively implement all the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, in order to prevent and punish “sanction evasion activities.”
Although the West also called on Pyongyang to engage in meaningful diplomacy over its nuclear and missile programs, which it called “illegal,” it also promised to “defend the international order.”
With Reuters and EFE
