Canada G7: Iran-Israel conflict dominates agenda as Albanese, Carney hold security talks

The Israel-Iran conflict is already dominating the meeting of G7 leaders in Canada, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese discussing the global response with Canadian counterpart Mark Carney.

The two prime ministers canvassed the escalating Middle East conflict along with trade, climate change and defence cooperation in their meeting on the eve of the Group of Seven summit.

Mr Carney invited Australia, along with a host of other non-G7 leaders from India, Ukraine, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, Mexico and the UAE, to join the summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.

Mr Albanese said Australia and Canada shared a view of “wanting to see a de-escalation of conflict, wanting to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy” between Israel and Iran.

“I’ve expressed before our concern about Iran gaining the capacity of nuclear weapons as something that is a threat to security in the region, but we, along with other like-minded countries, do want to see that priority on dialogue and diplomacy,” he told reporters in Canada.

G7 leaders are planning to issue a joint statement on Iran calling for de-escalation of the crisis, Reuters reported.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he wanted leaders to call on Iran not to develop or possess nuclear weapons, ensure Israel’s right to defend itself and avoid further escalation of the conflict to create room for diplomacy.

Mr Albanese wouldn’t say what Australia’s position on any joint statement in support of Israel would be, pointing out Australia wasn’t a G7 country.

“I should imagine that that will be something that is up to G7 countries to discuss,” he said.