The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today participated in a meeting with Yvette Cooper, the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, and Penny Wong, Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, to discuss a range of regional and international geopolitical issues.
The ministers discussed the need for Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom to closely coordinate responses to the latest developments in the Middle East, and they exchanged views on ways to mitigate the impacts of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on the global economy and critical supply chains, including in relation to the three countries.
The ministers emphasized the importance of coordinating efforts aimed at supporting lasting solutions to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the ministers underscored their shared resolve to advancing a just, lasting and comprehensive peace, which can only be achieved through a negotiated two-state solution.
The ministers took the opportunity to establish their respective priorities and align their positions on a broad range of topics, including energy security, critical minerals and economic growth, as the three countries prepare for important multilateral meetings, such as the upcoming G20 Summit and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The ministers also held a video meeting with Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine, focused on supporting women and girls in Ukraine. As they heard about the impacts of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine on women and girls, as well as women and girls' leadership in Ukraine's recovery, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to gender equality and to promoting the rights and empowerment of women and girls in Ukraine and globally.
