The Group of 7 major economies will convene in the Bavarian Alps this weekend, bringing together the leaders of members Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. to discuss the world’s most pressing political and economic issues.
Since the 1970s, the countries of the world’s largest developed economies have met regularly to address the time’s most crucial global economic and political challenges, such as climate change, rising inflation and the Ukraine war. The G7 members last met in Brussels in March to discuss the conflict.
Germany hosts the G7 this year, and the summit will take place between June 26 and June 28 at Schloss Elmau, a five-star hotel and castle near the Austrian border about 62 miles south of Munich.
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The summit this year will be hosted by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who in March warned that the Ukraine war “must not lead us as the G7 to neglect our responsibility for global challenges such as the climate crisis or the pandemic.” He said these original goals will actually become more important during the war, which has killed thousands, displaced millions and is causing a global food crisis.
The G7 has repeatedly said it is committed to democracy, human rights and rule of law, as well as prosperity and sustainable development. Germany’s G7 presidency will focus on issues including sustainability, recovering from the pandemic, setting the course for economic stability and strengthening alliances to promote social justice, equality and inclusive digitalization.
Among those present at the summit is Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who will also attend the NATO summit in Spain from June 28 to June 30, according to Canada’s government.
From the U.S., President Joe Biden and his Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be joining the leaders’ summit in Germany.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to tell the G7 leaders to increase their support to Ukraine, amid fears that Western allies could be experiencing “war fatigue” as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly draws into its fifth month, The Telegraph reported.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, will also be there.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel will also attend.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo will also attend, despite the Asian country not being a G7 member.
Widodo, who is also the G20 chair this year, will meet leaders of Russia and Ukraine in the days following the summit in Bavaria to promote peace and try and help ease the burden of the global food crisis, particularly on low-income countries.
The Indonesian president will travel to the Ukrainian and Russian capitals after attending the G7 summit at Schloss Elmau, Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi said on Wednesday.
In April, the Indonesian president invited Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the G20 summit on the resort island of Bali in November.