Italy is preparing to host the G7 summit this week, with the leaders of the world’s largest advanced economies gathering in the southern region of Puglia. The leaders are split between two accommodation options: one, a luxurious resort where celebrities such as Madonna, the Beckhams, and Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel got married, and the other, a giant ship brought in to accommodate the 2,600 police officers providing security, which has been impounded following reports of “inhuman” conditions. Italy has been praised for its political stability, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni boasting that Italy has the “strongest government of all,” in contrast to the shaky situation in many G7 countries.
The summit’s aims include plans to loan Ukraine $50bn from the interest on frozen Russian assets in the West. The proposal, using the assets as collateral for a loan, looks likely to be backed at the summit, giving cash-starved and war-weary Ukraine another lifeline. The summit will also include sessions on climate change and renewable energy, investment projects in Africa to encourage young Africans to stay on the continent, and the Middle East following a US-backed plan for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Pope Francis will be attending the G7, addressing the issue of artificial intelligence from the perspective of global regulation. The participation of the 87-year-old pontiff marks the first time that a pope has attended a G7 summit. The aim of the broadened attendance of other world leaders, from Brazil to Turkey, and Saudi Arabia to Algeria, is to combat criticism that the G7 permanent members are an exclusive club. It will be the first international summit for Narendra Modi of India and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa following the loss of their majorities in their recent elections.
Italians in the region are proud of Puglia’s elevation to the centre of the diplomatic world. Local ice-cream maker Vincenzo Iannacone has created seven new flavours to mark the occasion, one for each G7 member. Iannacone hopes the delegations will drop in to taste them, with the possibility of the flavours being added to the menu at the leaders’ resort. Despite low expectations, observers hope for some concrete deliverables to come out of the G7 summit
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