The two-day meeting in Liverpool (11-12 December) gives many ministers the opportunity to get to know each other in person for the first time. For Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, this is the first G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting – just three days after assuming office. The new British Foreign Secretary and host Elizabeth Truss, the new Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly and the new Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will also attend the meeting for the first time. This is also Liverpool’s première as host of a G7 meeting. One of the conference events will be held in the Beatles Museum, enabling the ministers to experience some of the magic of Liverpool’s Fab Four.

Spotlight on current issues and the Indo-Pacific

Alongside relations with Russia and China, the agenda includes current developments in Ukraine, Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran and on the African continent. At the same time, the meeting gives ministers the opportunity to focus on fundamental issues such as global health, technology, infrastructure and gender equality. The British Presidency is also very much prioritising regional developments in the Indo-Pacific. Alongside Australia and South Korea, invitations have thus also been extended to the ASEAN foreign ministers.

Passing of the baton in Liverpool – Germany takes over from UK G7 Presidency

For Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, the meeting also provides an opportunity to present Germany’s plans for the G7 Presidency 2022 to the other G7 members. Alongside current crises and strategic foreign and security policy challenges, the work of the G7 Foreign Ministers next year will also focus particularly on the climate crisis and its impact, on strengthening multilateralism and the resilience of democracies.