3 First-Time Guests Shake Up the Summit! You won’t believe who’s attending the G7 this year

CONTENTS: 3 First-Time Guests Shake Up the Summit

• Saudi Arabia joins G7 summit
• G7 expands with diverse guests
• G7 widens scope, Pope joins AI talk

Saudi Arabia joins G7 summit

3 First-Time Guests Shake Up the Summit

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will attend the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit, joining at least 12 other heads of state and government invited by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, officials announced on Friday. The extended guest list demonstrates Italy’s intention to expand the scope of the G7, which traditionally includes the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the European Union.

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will join other leaders at the Group of Seven (G7) summit next week, as part of an extensive guest list invited by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. This longer list reflects Italy’s ambition to widen the G7’s scope beyond its core members: the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the European Union. “The G7 unites nations with shared fundamental principles and standards, but it remains open to the world,” said an anonymous senior official.

The list of attendees for the June 13-15 summit includes leaders from India, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey, Algeria, Kenya, and Mauritania, all of whom have confirmed their attendance. This marks the first international trip for India’s Narendra Modi following his recent election win and for South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa after losing his overall majority this month.

Highlighting the Middle East’s significance, officials confirmed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Jordan’s King Abdullah would participate in the discussions at Borgo Egnazia, a luxurious resort in Puglia. This is reportedly the first time a Saudi leader, from a nation often criticized for human rights abuses, has been invited to a G7 summit.

“We don’t always agree, but dialogue and understanding different needs lead to results,” the Italian official noted.

UKRAINE RETURNS

As with last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will attend the G7 meeting, participating in a session on June 13 focused on the conflict with Russia. The other leaders will join discussions on Friday, June 14.

A notable attendee will be Pope Francis, marking the first time a pontiff participates in a G7 summit. He will deliver the keynote address in a session on the risks and opportunities of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Critics often label the G7 as elitist and arrogant. Italy aims to counter this perception by inviting a wide range of guests to build consensus on important issues like relations with China and to highlight challenges facing the Global South, particularly Africa.

Previous hosts have issued fewer invitations, with Germany and Britain each inviting just five leaders in recent years. The last instance of a larger guest list was in 2009 when former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi invited 22 world leaders.

In addition to a Friday session on AI, energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean, which all leaders will attend, there will be many opportunities for bilateral meetings.

Attention will be on a potential meeting between Argentinian President Javier Milei and Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, South American neighbors who have recently been critical of each other.