G7 Summit Held in Italy

WATCH HERE: President Giorgia Meloni presented the outcomes of the G7 Summit

From June 13 to 15, the picturesque town of Borgo Egnazia in Puglia, Italy, hosted the G7 Summit under the Italian Presidency. The three-day event brought together leaders from the seven member states, the President of the European Council, and the President of the European Commission, representing the European Union. The summit aimed to address a wide array of critical global issues through various dedicated sessions.

The programme included six working sessions on: Africa, climate change and development; Middle East; Ukraine; Migrations; Indo-Pacific and economic security, as well as the ‘outreach’ session with invited Nations and international organizations on Africa, the Mediterranean, artificial intelligence and energy. A notable side event also took place, highlighting the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII).

In line with previous G7 meetings, representatives from various states and international organizations were invited by the host nation. The summit saw participation from notable figures such as Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank; Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of Algeria; Javier Milei, President of Argentina; Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil; Pope Francis; Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India; Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund; King Abdallah II of Jordan; William Ruto, President of Kenya; Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, President of Mauritania; Mathias Cormann, Secretary General of the OECD; Ahmed Hachani, Prime Minister of Tunisia; Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Türkiye; Antònio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations; Mohammed bin Zayed, President of the United Arab Emirates; and Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank.

Following the summit, China’s Foreign Ministry issued a pointed critique, asserting that the G7 does not represent the world, noting that the seven countries account for only 10% of the world population. The spokesperson emphasized that their share in the global economy is declining, and that even combined, they contribute less than China to global economic growth. Furthermore, the economic aggregate of the G7, in terms of purchasing power parity, has been surpassed by BRICS countries. The statement also criticized the G7 for straying from its original purpose of coordinating for stability in the global economic environment, suggesting it has increasingly become a political tool to perpetuate US and Western supremacy.