Leaders of some of the most powerful countries in the world are meeting until Wednesday (17) on the south shore of Lake Geneva for the G7 summit, a group that brings together the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.
But, after all, what is the G7 — and why does it matter?
The countries that make up the group are, traditionally, the richest large democracies in the world — close allies and important trading partners that account for a relevant share of the global economy.
These countries meet regularly to discuss economic issues and major international policy issues, and when they reach a consensus, they can exert enormous collective influence. But many European leaders no longer see the United States as an automatic partner on key issues.
This year, the meeting is hosted by France, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the group. The summit takes place in the alpine spa town of Évian-les-Bains. Representatives from the European Union and invited countries also participate: Brazil, Egypt, India, Kenya and South Korea.
The group, whose origins date back to the 1973 oil crisis, emerged from an informal meeting of finance ministers from the United Kingdom, United States, France, Japan and what was then West Germany — initially known as the Big Five — as they sought a common way out of the crisis.
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Since the 1970s, the group and its later members have met dozens of times to address issues affecting the international economy, security, trade, equality and climate change. In 2015, their summit helped pave the way for the Paris Agreement, reached later that year to limit global emissions. This is the 52nd meeting of its kind.
For a while, the group had eight members — remember the G8? — but Russia, always seen as a somewhat non-standard member, was expelled in 2014 amid international condemnation over President Vladimir Putin’s annexation of Crimea. Last year, President Donald Trump again advocated Russia’s reinstatement.
At this year’s summit, wars in Iran and Ukraine are expected to dominate the agenda, as US allies watch whether Trump will be willing to cooperate, following tense meetings in 2025 and 2018.
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The United States and Iran announced a preliminary agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world’s oil and natural gas normally passes, and to continue negotiations. Still, the conflict between the two countries continued with the potential to dominate the summit. The reopening of the strait would be a huge relief for Europeans, whose economies have been pressured by the interruption of oil and gas shipments. European countries have promised to send ships to help protect the waterway if it becomes clear that the ceasefire will hold.
European leaders also hope to reignite Trump’s interest in negotiating a peace deal with Russia for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be present at the summit, and he and Trump will participate in a working session on Tuesday.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
