Secretary of State Antony Blinken is embarking on a diplomatic trip to Europe, where he will participate in Group of Seven G7 and bilateral meetings outside Rome on Monday and Tuesday. These discussions will focus on the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East as the Biden administration winds down and concerns rise about potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy under President-elect Donald Trump.
The G7, which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, has been a key provider of military and economic support for Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022. President Biden aims to ensure that this support continues and is strengthened. However, G7 members are particularly concerned about how Trump's administration might alter the U.S. approach.
Trump has criticized the significant financial aid provided to Ukraine by the Biden administration and suggested that he could end the war quickly, potentially by pressing Ukraine to cede territory to Russia.
In the Middle East, Trump has appointed several staunchly pro-Israel officials and is expected to pursue a policy that heavily favors Israel over the aspirations of the Palestinians and others seeking a two-state resolution to the conflict, which has been centered on Gaza for the past 13 months since Hamas launched attacks inside Israel
