G7 leaders meet in Italy
The G7 will meet today in Fasano, Italy.
This will be the 50th meeting of the multinational group since inception in 1973. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will assume the G7 presidency until 31 December 2024.
Meloni is hosting the G7 at a time of great support for her right-wing party’s brand of politics across Europe. EU parliamentary elections last week resulting in strong support for right-wing parties in France, Germany and Austria. PM Meloni, unlike her far-right counterparts, however, has hewed towards the centre, particularly with foreign policy, supporting funding for Ukraine and affirming NATO unity.
This summit, however, comes at a perilous time for democratic norms across the world, and not just in the developing world, but within democratic strongholds such as the US and the EU. Though the G7 will be focussing on AI and foreign policy, expect a behind-the-scenes discussion between EU partners on the political realities now faced domestically. US President Joe Biden will look to include democratic values into the end of summit joint communique, a nod to the realities of a potential second Trump presidency. Also expect strong support for the recent passage of a US-led UN security Council ceasefire resolution in Gaza.