G7 Leaders Agree to New Initiative to Fight Economic Coercion

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (C) hosts a working session as part of the G7 Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima on May 20, 2023. (AFP)
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (C) hosts a working session as part of the G7 Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima on May 20, 2023. (AFP)
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G7 Leaders Agree to New Initiative to Fight Economic Coercion

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (C) hosts a working session as part of the G7 Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima on May 20, 2023. (AFP)
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (C) hosts a working session as part of the G7 Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima on May 20, 2023. (AFP)

Group of Seven leaders on Saturday agreed to a new initiative to counter economic coercion, and pledged action to ensure that any actors attempting to weaponize economic dependence would fail and face consequences.

The initiative, dubbed Coordination Platform on Economic Coercion, will use early warning and rapid information sharing on economic coercion with members meeting regularly for consultations, the leaders said in a statement.

"The world has encountered a disturbing rise in incidents of economic coercion that seek to exploit economic vulnerabilities," the G7 leaders said in a statement following a meeting in Hiroshima, Japan.

The statement did not identify China, but in details released on Friday that outlined the proposed initiative, the British government pointed to attempts by China to use its economic power in political disputes with Australia and Lithuania.

The statement also committed the G7 leaders to deepen cooperation on hardening supply chains and called for a bigger role for lower income countries in promoting economic resilience.

They urged all nations to adhere to principles of "transparency, diversification, security, sustainability, and trustworthiness and reliability" in building supply chain networks.

The group also agreed to deepen cooperation in information sharing as it looks to establish new standards for next generation technologies.



Saudi Arabia's SAMI and Turkish Firms Establish New Defense Industry Collaborations

Saudi Arabia's SAMI and Turkish Firms Establish New Defense Industry Collaborations
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Saudi Arabia's SAMI and Turkish Firms Establish New Defense Industry Collaborations

Saudi Arabia's SAMI and Turkish Firms Establish New Defense Industry Collaborations

State-owned Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) said early on Thursday it signed three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with Turkish companies to "support the localization of defense industries" in the Kingdom.

In a statement, SAMI said it agreed with Türkiye's drone maker Baykar to "establish manufacturing capabilities" and develop systems for Baykar's unmanned aerial vehicles in Saudi Arabia.

It also agreed with Turkish aerospace and defense company Aselsan to explore opportunities for developing defense electronics technologies in the kingdom.

In addition, SAMI signed a preliminary agreement with Türkiye's Fergani Space for the "development of emerging technologies in the Kingdom to serve the global space sector," the statement said.