The G7 summit commenced on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at the luxury Borgo Egnazia resort in Puglia, Italy, with a focus on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and China's economic influence. Hosted by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the summit gathers leaders from the U.S., U.K., Canada, Germany, France, Japan, Italy, the European Union, and special guests, including Pope Francis and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Several leaders face political challenges back home. U.S. President Joe Biden is under scrutiny ahead of a tough election and controversies involving his son. U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is campaigning for a snap election, facing low approval ratings. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is trailing behind Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. French President Emmanuel Macron has called for snap elections after a significant defeat to Marine Le Pen's National Rally in the European elections. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz faces low approval ratings, while Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida deals with internal political scandals.
Meanwhile, Meloni's government reportedly excluded a clause on "safe and legal" abortions from the final G7 declaration, causing discontent among other member nations. Despite denials from Meloni's office, this omission highlights the contrasting values within the G7, particularly as leaders emphasize support for Ukraine and geopolitical stability in the region.