U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged international partners Tuesday to "step up" and contribute to protecting shipping from Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, though he acknowledged that his appeal met little enthusiasm from his Group of Seven counterparts during talks in Paris.
"I raised it. I didn’t get a response," Rubio stated when questioned about the G7 foreign ministers' reactions to his call for action. He affirmed that the United States would persist in defending maritime traffic through the strategic strait, which has been subjected to ongoing drone attacks.
"We’ve actually encouraged our partners to join us in the effort of defending global shipping," Rubio said following two days of discussions in Paris covering the Middle East, Ukraine, and other pressing global issues. He characterized the situation as a "kind of a Catch-22," explaining that some allies have indicated a willingness to provide minesweepers and other assistance only once the risk of conflict diminishes.
Rubio emphasized the global importance of protecting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, noting that the U.S. does not import oil from the region. "These countries should step up. I think a couple are thinking about it," he added.
During the G7 foreign ministers' meeting, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also met with Rubio before joining a broader session with the entire G7. Their discussion focused on negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war, energy resilience, and defense cooperation. The larger meeting was slated to address defense and security assistance for Ukraine, particularly in light of recent reductions in aid from the U.S. administration.