On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on February 14, 2026, the foreign ministers of the G7 member countries met for the first time under the 2026 French Presidency. This informal gathering, chaired by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jean-Noël Barrot, provided an opportunity to discuss the priorities of the French G7 Presidency: regulating global economic imbalances and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.
During the meeting, participants reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine, four years after the start of Russia’s war of invasion. The G7’s unwavering support for Ukraine—both politically and in terms of energy resilience in the face of Russia’s targeted attacks—was strongly reiterated.
Discussions also focused on current international crises, including those in Gaza, Iran, Venezuela, the Indo-Pacific, Sudan, and Haiti.
The participation of India’s Minister of External Affairs illustrated France’s commitment to broadening G7 dialogue to include emerging countries, particularly on issues of global governance and maritime security. France aims to involve a wider range of partners in G7 discussions to respond effectively to global economic challenges and cross-cutting threats such as drug trafficking and organized crime—topics that will also be addressed under the “Home Affairs” track of the French G7 Presidency.
In an increasingly unstable geopolitical context, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs emphasized France’s intention to make the G7—true to its original purpose—a forum for dialogue among major powers to meet the challenges of our time.