Leaders of the G7 Wealthy Nations Gather in Southern Italy Amidst Global Turmoil

The Group of Seven (G7) leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, will convene in the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in Puglia, Italy from June 13–15. This gathering comes at a sensitive time, as the world grapples with ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and other regions, while several key leaders face upcoming elections.

In addition to the G7 members, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the summit’s host, has invited around a dozen non-G7 heads of government, such as Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan and India’s Narendra Modi, to participate. Pope Francis will also visit the summit on June 14 to discuss the topic of artificial intelligence.

High on the agenda is the continued support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion, now in its third year. The G7 leaders are expected to agree on a plan to utilize the profits from the interest on 300 billion euros ($325 billion) of frozen Russian central bank assets to aid Kyiv. This move is seen as a key test of the G7’s commitment to addressing Russia’s aggression.

Other issues to be addressed include concerns over China’s support for Russia’s military expansion, tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, and economic security challenges, such as rising trade tensions with China on green technologies. The leaders will also discuss the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, as well as migration and relations with Africa, two priorities for the Italian host.

The summit comes at a “particularly difficult moment on the international stage,” according to an Italian government source. With several participants, including Biden, Sunak, and Macron, facing elections in the coming weeks and months, the G7 gathering could be the last for some of them.

Despite the weighty agenda, the summit will be held in a secluded location, with the media center located some 60 kilometers away in Bari, and tight security measures in place. The economic and political weight of the G7 has diminished over time, leading some to question the forum’s continued relevance, especially without the participation of China.