The G7, an intergovernmental political and economic forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, will host its 50th summit in the city of Fasano in Apulia, Italy. The global geo-political event will take place from June 13 to June 15, and cover several global issues, including the ongoing conflicts between Israel and Gaza, and Ukraine and Russia.
Leaders from all seven nations have reached Fasano for the summit. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also join the summit and is set to leave for Italy on Thursday. This will be his first foreign tour after becoming the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term. Modi will travel to Italy following Rome’s invitation to New Delhi. The Indian Prime Minister likely to hold a meeting with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni during the summit.
Modi is also expected to meet US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the summit and is likely to come face to face with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau amid the North American country’s strained relationship with India.
Ahead of the summit, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has issued a long message on social media.
“For us, the main issues are developing fighter jet coalition, expediting pilot training, and accelerating aircraft delivery. Development of the Ukrainian air defense system based on the most powerful western systems, as well as an increase in long-range capability.
Bilateral security agreements will be signed during meetings with US President Joe Biden and Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida. The document with the United States will be unprecedented, as it should be for leaders who support Ukraine.
The entire Ukrainian people, including our warriors, see that the G7 will always support Ukraine. I am grateful to our partners for their belief in us and our victory,” he said.
Il mio benvenuto in apertura dei lavori del #G7Italy https://t.co/MWdZD9jgFb
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) June 13, 2024
As per an Associated Press report, before the summit, “negotiators reached a deal to back a USD 50 billion loan to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets held in the European Union as collateral”. The said deal was reportedly proposed by the US.
POTUS Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy will also sign a bilateral security agreement during the G7 summit.