Italian PM Meloni, UK PM Starmer Discuss Ukraine, Middle East, Defence at G7

In the lead-up to the 2025 G7 Summit, Italian President Giorgia Meloni and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a bilateral meeting focusing on key global issues such as the Middle East conflict, the war in Ukraine, and European defense and security ahead of the NATO Summit. They emphasized strong cooperation on migration, particularly in combating human trafficking, and highlighted ongoing strategic collaboration in defense through initiatives like the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). Separately, Prime Minister Starmer met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to reaffirm the Canada-UK partnership, discussing geopolitical challenges including the Middle East and Indo-Pacific tensions, and committed to enhancing economic growth, trade, and security cooperation. Starmer also expressed confidence in the continuation of the Aukus defense pact with the U.S. and Australia despite a review initiated by President Trump. On the domestic front, during Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer addressed concerns about parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities facing prosecution due to school absences linked to lack of support, acknowledging the complexity of the issue while affirming government efforts to balance attendance and support needs.