G7 to commit US$2.5b for food-insecure countries — French econ minister

BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — G7 countries pledged to allocate US$2.5 billion to address food insecurity in vulnerable nations, French Economy Minister Roland Lescure said on Thursday. Speaking in Bangkok on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, Lescure said the World Bank had identified 44 countries that may face food security issues in the face of soaring global energy prices. "The G7 has also been very sensitive to the weakest links of the current global situation, the poor countries," Lescure told reporters. "So all together, we've pledged US$2.5 billion in order to help on food security, especially on a very important subject, which is fertilisers." The US attack on Iran has plunged the Middle East into conflict and sent global energy prices soaring, impacting fertiliser supply and causing food prices to rise globally. Lescure said G7 ministers were also focused on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, saying: "We all want to keep supporting Ukraine." He said the seven countries have raised 260 million euros (US$291 million) to help repair a dome preventing leaks at the Chernobyl disaster site, which was damaged in Russian attacks in February 2025. France, the current leader of the G7, said in March that repairs would cost 500 million euros and asked fellow members of the club of major industrial democracies to chip in. The United States in April said it will provide US$100 million toward repairs. "There's another few million euros to find," Lescure said on Thursday, adding that there will be a "pledging conference" in Paris in November to raise more funds.