Representatives of the world’s wealthiest democracies gather in France for a G7 meeting as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio seeks to shore up reluctant allies for the Trump administration’s campaign against Iran. The trip follows President Trump’s announcement of a new deadline — giving Iran until April 6 to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face destruction of its power plants — and his criticism of NATO for not aiding the U.S. when he sought help to reopen the vital waterway.
“Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well,” Trump said. He also warned NATO it would be remembered for not answering his call for help, while insisting the U.S. did not truly need them.
European leaders have said they were not informed of Trump’s plans in advance and are not interested in joining what could become a protracted war. Germany’s defense minister bluntly said Washington has “no exit strategy.” Rubio told reporters before his trip that countries should “step up” to address the Strait of Hormuz blockade, arguing that while little of U.S. energy flows through the strait, the world has a large stake in it.
Foreign ministers from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and the European Union are meeting in France with Iran expected to dominate the agenda. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the G7 would discuss ways to drive de-escalation in the Middle East while also recognizing the linked threat posed by Russia’s war in Ukraine. The U.S. has largely left Europe to contend with Russian aggression, even excluding Europeans from peace discussions; Russia this week launched more than a thousand drones at Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials.
On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise trip to Saudi Arabia, saying Ukraine’s drone expertise could help Gulf countries’ security. He posted that meetings were planned and thanked partners ready to work with Ukraine. Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s practical experience integrating drones with radars, aviation and air defenses, and said in Le Monde that he would seek assistance for Ukraine’s war in return — including access to air defense missiles held by Middle Eastern states.
Despite Trump’s comments about promising negotiations — with Pakistan reportedly acting as an intermediary — strikes continued across the Middle East. The Israel Defense Forces said it struck ballistic missile production sites and air defense systems across Iran, announcing on X that attacks targeted infrastructure used to produce weapons, especially ballistic missile facilities, plus launchers and missile storage sites posing threats to Israel.
In Lebanon, the Israeli army ordered another forced evacuation as it pushed north against Hezbollah. Israel also reported incoming missiles from Iran. The Gulf experienced collateral impacts: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said it struck U.S. bases in the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait with missiles and drones. Kuwait reported a drone attack on its port; sirens sounded in Bahrain and Qatar briefly raised security alerts.
The war and Iran’s near-blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil moves — have rattled global markets and economies. Wall Street suffered its largest daily decline since the conflict began as oil prices spiked; Asian shares mostly fell. Asian countries, heavily dependent on oil transiting the strait, have begun contingency planning. Reports say Japan may temporarily lift restrictions on coal-fired plants; Vietnam has waived an environmental fuel tax to cut petrol prices by about 25 percent. The Philippines declared a national energy emergency amid transport worker protests.
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb warned that the Iran war could trigger a global recession worse than the COVID-19 pandemic. The unfolding crises — a widening rift between the U.S. and its European partners, continued military strikes across the region, and mounting economic pain tied to disruptions in energy supplies — are expected to dominate international diplomatic efforts at the G7 and beyond.
Eleanor Beardsley in Paris, Emily Feng in Van, Turkey, Michael Sullivan in Chiang Rai, Thailand, and Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg contributed to this report.