Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Jordan’s King Abdullah, Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, World Bank President Ajay Banga, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva and pose for a family photo on the second day of the G7 summit at the Borgo Egnazia resort, in Savelletri, Italy June 14, 2024. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
Pope Francis made a historic appearance at the Group of Seven (G7) summit on Friday, addressing the advantages and disadvantages of artificial intelligence (AI). Concurrently, G7 leaders pledged to address harmful business practices attributed to China.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the summit’s host, invited the Pope along with other heads of state and government, including the Prime Minister of India and the King of Jordan. This gesture was intended to demonstrate that the G7 is not an exclusive or detached entity. “We will never accept the narrative that wants the ‘West against the rest’,” Meloni stated on Friday.
Pope Francis, who arrived in a wheelchair and received a warm welcome from leaders such as U.S. President Joe Biden and Argentine President Javier Milei, acknowledged the complex nature of AI. He noted its potential to generate excitement and expand access to knowledge while also highlighting the risks of increased injustice between advanced and developing nations or between dominant and oppressed social classes.
The core G7 members—the United States, Italy, Britain, France, Germany, Japan, and Canada—initially concentrated on China’s economic influence and perceived market imbalances in sectors like electric vehicles, steel, and renewable energy. Their summit statement, issued on Friday evening, emphasized that the G7 does not aim to harm China or hinder its economic development. Instead, it aims to protect its businesses from unfair practices, level the playing field, and address ongoing harm.
Additionally, the G7 warned of actions against Chinese financial institutions that assist Russia in obtaining weapons for its conflict in Ukraine. Washington had imposed new sanctions on China-based firms supplying semiconductors to Russia amid concerns over Beijing’s aggressive stance toward Taiwan and disputes with the Philippines over maritime claims.
Leaders also addressed immigration, a crucial issue for Prime Minister Meloni, who is advocating for European assistance in curbing illegal flows from Africa. She has initiated a flagship plan to boost development in Africa to address the root causes of migration. The G7 leaders agreed to establish a coalition to combat people smuggling, focusing on enhanced cooperation in investigating trafficking networks and confiscating their assets.
“Illegal migration is now a global emergency,” stated British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. “We all agree that it’s for sovereign nations to control their borders and not criminal gangs.” Sunak noted that this was the first time a G7 summit had discussed migration, marking it as a sign of progress. “Obviously, these things don’t happen overnight,” he added. “But the conversation was very productive, so I’m confident it will make a difference.”
On the first day of their meeting in southern Italy, the G7 nations agreed on an outline deal to provide $50 billion in loans for Ukraine, backed by interest from frozen Russian assets. This accord was hailed as a powerful signal of Western resolve. In their statement, G7 leaders expressed their intention to impose further costs on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and promised sanctions against entities helping Russia circumvent restrictions on oil trading through fraudulent transportation.
However, Meloni, leading a right-wing government, faced challenges regarding the handling of sensitive social issues in the summit’s concluding statement. G7 leaders did not directly mention abortion in their final communique, with Italy resisting French pressure to include the term. The draft also faced criticism for allegedly diluting support for LGBTQ rights compared to the statement from the previous leaders’ meeting in Japan. Italy maintained that this was a diplomatic tempest in a teacup and asserted that the G7’s stance on these issues remained unchanged.
Many leaders, including President Biden, were scheduled to depart Italy late on Friday. On Saturday, bilateral meetings were planned for those remaining, followed by a final news conference from Prime Minister Meloni.
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