CGTN
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) will meet in the French town of Evian from June 15 to 17 as they seek to address mounting geopolitical crises and global economic imbalances amid growing differences within the group.
The summit takes place against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, which have added to global economic uncertainties, while divisions between the United States and its European allies have drawn attention ahead of the meeting.
The summit will bring together leaders from the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, as well as the European Union (EU), to discuss responses to what France described as an increasingly unstable international environment marked by “rising conflicts, widening economic imbalances and weakened global governance.”
The French Foreign Ministry on Friday outlined several priority areas for the summit, including promoting balanced and sustainable economic growth, strengthening international cooperation and enhancing critical minerals supply chains. The summit will also include exchanges of views on geopolitical crises.
On economic issues, discussions will address macroeconomic imbalances such as high debt levels and insufficient investment, according to the French Foreign Ministry.
France has identified reducing global economic imbalances as a priority of its G7 presidency. French President Emmanuel Macron said such imbalances have reached levels not seen since the 2007-2008 global financial crisis and risk fueling protectionism and broader economic and geopolitical instability.
The summit will also focus on strengthening international solidarity and improving the effectiveness of development cooperation. Ensuring secure and diversified supply chains for critical minerals is another item on the agenda.
Geopolitical issues will also feature prominently on the agenda. According to the French Foreign Ministry, leaders will exchange views on the Ukraine crisis and the situation in the Middle East, including issues related to the Strait of Hormuz.
Regarding the Ukraine crisis, the aim is to “build convergence” to continue supporting Ukraine in order to achieve a peace that provides “full clarity for Ukraine and Europe on their future security,” according to the French Foreign Ministry.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to attend a summit session on Tuesday, and it remains unclear whether he will meet US President Donald Trump, who is expected to arrive in Evian on Monday evening.
The leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have been invited to attend another summit session on Tuesday to discuss the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, Macron said.
The session will focus on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has “a real impact on our economies,” as well as negotiations concerning Iran, Macron added.
According to Bloomberg, the US and Iran are moving closer to signing an interim agreement at the time of the G7 summit. CNN reported that US Vice President JD Vance may attend a signing ceremony in Europe in the coming days, possibly in Geneva, Switzerland.
In addition, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Friday called on the US and Iran to seize the opportunity to end a situation that is unsustainable and sign a peace deal.
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts on regional issues, differences within the G7 have drawn attention ahead of the summit.
There may be no joint declaration at the end of the summit amid heightened tensions between the US and its European allies, particularly over the Middle East situation, Japan’s Kyodo News reported on Wednesday, citing diplomatic sources.
If confirmed, it would mark the second consecutive year without a joint statement following last year’s summit in Canada.
“For the G7 under the French presidency, having Trump engage constructively would already be a success,” an informed source told French daily Le Parisien.
Heidi Crebo-Rediker, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, wrote in a recent article that upon arriving in Evian, Trump could adopt a more assertive tone and use the G7 platform to express dissatisfaction with what he sees as insufficient support from allies following disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
She noted that significant differences persist among G7 members and could resurface during discussions on the sidelines of the summit. Issues such as support for Ukraine, trade, digital sovereignty, regulation and climate policy are among those where trust in the United States has weakened.
According to a survey published on Wednesday by the European Council on Foreign Relations, only 11% of Europeans currently view the United States as an ally, down from 16% six months ago and 22% in November 2024.
