Rubio delivers America first message to G7 Iran talks in France

Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in France on Friday to attend the G7 meeting of foreign ministers, where he will send a clear message about the United States’ priorities in the ongoing war with Iran.

In the days leading up to the meeting, other members took quite different approaches to the war. Almost all of Washington’s partners (Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan) reacted cautiously to the US-Israeli military action and refused to participate in offensive operations, although they condemned Iran’s actions.

Before leaving Thursday, Rubio signaled a defiant approach to the talks: “I don’t work for France, Germany or Japan… the people I’m interested in making happy are the people of the United States. I work for them,” he said in a video posted on X.

This difference has frustrated President Donald Trump, who has been pressuring his allies to do more to secure key sea lanes, especially the Strait of Hormuz. While some countries have signaled a willingness to support defense or maritime security efforts, they have stopped short of engaging in direct military strikes.

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“The United States was constantly asked to help in wars, and we did. But we did not get a positive response from NATO when we needed it. Several leaders said Iran is not Europe’s war. Yes, Ukraine is not our war, but we still contributed more to this fight than anyone else,” Rubio added.

“If Iran stops threatening global shipping, it is a disgrace and a violation of international law, the Strait of Hormuz can be opened tomorrow. All these countries that care about international law should do something about this,” he said before boarding his plane to France.

Those remarks set the tone for the summit, which was already marked by growing friction between Washington and some of its closest allies over how to handle the Iran conflict. Rubio framed the risks clearly. “Iran has been at war with the United States for 47 years… Iran is killing Americans and attacking Americans all over this planet,” he told a White House cabinet meeting, adding that allowing Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons would be “an unacceptable risk to the world.”

But even before Rubio arrived at the meeting, European officials were signaling a very different approach.

“We need to get out of the war, not escalate it further, because the consequences for everyone in the world are quite severe,” European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas said at a briefing on the sidelines of the G7 on Thursday. he said.

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“This can only be a diplomatic solution… Sit down and negotiate to find a way out,” he added.

The contrast between Rubio’s framing and Kallas’ message reflects the underlying tension shaping the meeting.

U.S. officials say Rubio entered the talks with a broader agenda that goes beyond Iran.

Rubio will use the meeting to “advance core U.S. interests” and advance discussions about the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as “international burden sharing” and the overall effectiveness of the G7, according to a State Department spokesperson who spoke to Fox News Digital on background.

The US is also expected to emphasize maritime security, including freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, and calls on its allies to assume greater responsibilities in conflict zones and international organizations, the spokesman said.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with reporters before boarding a plane en route to France, where he will attend the G7 foreign ministers meeting at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, US, on March 26, 2026. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool via Reuters)

European officials have instead emphasized the broader risks of conflict.

French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot said talks at the G7 would build on a recent joint statement condemning Iran’s actions but also addressing maritime security concerns.

He said the “discussions will provide an opportunity to reconsider positions already agreed at the G7 level, including Iran’s unjust attacks against the Gulf states, which we condemn in the strongest possible terms.”

Barrot added that ministers will also focus on ensuring the security of global shipping routes.

A satellite image shows the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and vital for global energy supplies. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)

“We will also have the opportunity to address the issue of maritime security and freedom of navigation, including an international mission to ensure the smooth flow of maritime traffic with a tight defensive posture, thereby helping to relieve pressure on energy prices,” he said.

Kallas reiterated this global framework. “All countries in the world are affected by this war in one way or another… It is in everyone’s interest for this war to stop,” he said.

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Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, speaks to the press at the EU Summit in Brussels, Belgium, on December 19, 2024. (Photo: Nicolas Landemard/Anadolu via Getty Images)

His words also pointed to the interconnected nature of the crisis. Linking the Iran conflict to the war in Ukraine, he said, “Russia is helping Iran with intelligence… and also supports Iran now with drones.” he said.

This uncertainty is already affecting the structure of the summit, with officials abandoning plans for a unified final declaration to avoid exposing divisions, Reuters reported.

Analysts say these differences reflect deeper structural tensions in the alliance. “Europe, while criticizing Donald Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’ strategy against Iran, is pursuing a failed diplomatic approach that has allowed the regime to expand its terrorist networks and approach nuclear threshold status,” Barak Seener, senior research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, told Fox News Digital.

“This reflects Europe’s lack of ability to project power into the region, particularly regarding the protection of the Strait of Hormuz.”

FILE PHOTO: Cargo ships in the Gulf, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam administration, near the Strait of Hormuz, United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026. (REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo/File Photo)

Seener added that while the US is changing its strategic priorities, the trust placed in Washington for years has left Europe increasingly vulnerable. “Years of underinvestment in defense and reliance on the United States have created a dependency that Washington sees as a betrayal of the peace it has guaranteed to Europe since World War II,” he said.

“With the United States valuing its relationship with Israel more than NATO, the result could be a further erosion of the alliance, reduced support for Ukraine, and increased economic pressure on Europe.”

He warned that urgent testing would come to the G7. “Differences over how to respond to Iran and any U.S. requests for support will likely reveal a deeper transatlantic divide,” Seener said.

“Operation Epic Fury demonstrated President Trump’s ability to assemble a coalition of allies to eliminate a common threat (in this case, the Iranian regime) and stabilize international trade,” Jacob Olidort, chief research officer and director of American security at the America First Policy Institute, told Fox News Digital.

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Satellite image shows the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, on October 2, 2024. (Copernicus Sentinel Data via Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Getty Images)

“Western Europe’s failure to participate in securing the Strait of Hormuz is particularly grave because these countries are more dependent on it than we are,” he added.

“At the same time, the historic successes of Operation Epic Fury have instilled new confidence in our Middle East partners to eliminate the threats of the Iranian regime and work together to shape a more peaceful and prosperous region.”