G7 shows deep splits
G7 foreign ministers met in France and revealed sharp divisions over U.S. and Israeli strategy on Iran — Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed the administration's approach but several European allies were openly skeptical (abcnews.com). The summit also exposed fractures on AI regulation, with the White House's flexible playbook creating partisan rifts and making a unified international regulatory framework look unlikely. (axios.com)
G7 foreign ministers met March 26–27, 2026 at the Abbaye des Vaux‑de‑Cernay outside Paris under France’s presidency. (g7.canada.ca) In a joint statement the ministers “call upon an immediate cessation of attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure” and urged the permanent restoration of safe, toll‑free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. (Reuters; Global Affairs Canada) Brent crude futures have jumped more than 50% to about $110–$112 a barrel since the Iran war intensified, and European diesel futures rose as much as 23% amid near‑shutdowns of Hormuz tanker traffic and record premiums in physical cargo markets. (Bloomberg; Bloomberg Markets) The White House released a four‑page National Policy Framework for AI on March 20 that urges federal preemption of state AI laws and a pro‑innovation, “light‑touch” approach to regulation. (whitehouse.gov) Axios reported the rollout exposed a widening partisan rift on Capitol Hill — lawmakers and industry sources flagged disputes over copyright, child‑safety rules and the scope of preemption after the administration’s “loose playbook” for Congress. (Axios; Benton Institute summary of Axios reporting) That U.S. stance sits uneasily with the G7’s Hiroshima AI Process and its Code of Conduct, a multiyear effort launched in 2023 and operationalized with HAIP reporting in 2025 to build common international AI principles. (OECD; G7 Leaders’ Hiroshima statement) Separately, Commerce Department draft rules on AI chip exports — which would broaden U.S. export control reach over chips used by firms such as Nvidia and AMD — have stirred industry and regulatory friction that complicates transatlantic tech coordination discussed at the meeting. (Axios; Bloomberg)
