Ottawa– World leaders have convened in the scenic Canadian Rockies for the Group of Seven (G7) Summit, taking place in Kananaskis, Alberta, against the backdrop of mounting geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The two-day summit opened with a 90-minute session focused on the global economic outlook, followed by a working lunch dedicated to energy security. The agenda, streamlined ahead of the gathering, emphasizes pressing global issues such as economic stability and energy resilience amid international unrest.
The G7 — an informal coalition of seven of the world’s most advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the European Union — meets annually to coordinate strategies on major economic and geopolitical challenges.
Leaders in attendance include U.S. President Donald Trump, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, among others.
In a notable diplomatic moment ahead of the summit, President Macron voiced strong support for Greenland’s autonomy and Denmark’s sovereignty. Speaking at a press conference in Nuuk alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Macron criticized recent American remarks about acquiring Greenland.
“It is wrong when the United States keeps expressing a wish to take over Greenland,” Macron said. “Greenland cannot be bought or taken.”
On the sidelines of the summit, Italian Prime Minister Meloni met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss shared priorities, including the EU’s competitiveness, irregular migration, and ongoing crises in the Middle East and Ukraine.
“In Kananaskis, I met with Chancellor Merz, and we reaffirmed our commitment to reconvene the Intergovernmental Summit between Italy and Germany in early 2026,” Meloni shared on X. “We also emphasized close coordination on the EU agenda and global conflicts.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also met with Meloni, stressing the importance of de-escalation in the Middle East. “The leaders agreed that the human toll and potential economic impact of rising oil prices cannot be underestimated,” a statement from Starmer’s office read. “This summit comes at a crucial moment, and G7 partners must chart a path forward through diplomacy.”
Both leaders reiterated unwavering support for Ukraine and emphasized the need to address it as a shared security priority.
Canadian Prime Minister Mike Carney, the summit’s host, has extended invitations to leaders from key non-G7 nations, including India, Ukraine, Australia, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates, signaling a broader global engagement beyond the traditional bloc. (Source: IANS)
