📷 Image Credits: The Hindu
The G7 leaders are set to gather in Italy for a summit at the luxury resort in Puglia, where they will discuss various pressing global issues. The summit, scheduled from June 13-15, will see leaders such as US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in attendance. Among the key topics on the agenda is increasing support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The summit comes at a time of significant global turmoil, with conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and upcoming elections for leaders like Biden, Macron, and Britain’s Rishi Sunak. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the host of the summit, has also extended invitations to several non-G7 heads of government, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
One of the central discussions will involve Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pressing for more Western help in the conflict with Russia, now in its third year. The G7 leaders are expected to deliberate on utilizing the interest profits from frozen Russian central bank assets to aid Ukraine, with a proposed loan of up to $50 billion. There is ongoing debate over the logistics of issuing the debt, as well as the outcome if the frozen assets are unfrozen in case of peace.
The summit will also address concerns over China’s support for Russia’s military expansion, along with discussions on the Indo-Pacific tensions, economic security, and climate change. Non-G7 guests, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, will participate in an outreach session. The summit of G7 leaders aims to address these critical issues while also emphasizing the importance of collaboration and cooperation on a global scale.
