GENEVA - Leaders of the Group of Seven countries will gather Monday evening in France for a three-day summit, with the tentative U.S.-Iran agreement expected to dominate early discussions as they assess whether it can reduce tensions in the Middle East and avert a broader regional conflict.
The deal, reached on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump's 80th birthday, is aimed at ending hostilities and expected to be officially signed Friday. French President Emmanuel Macron, chair of this year's summit, said the G7 leaders will discuss the long-term reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil supplies.
The summit in the French lakeside town of Evian-les-Bains will test whether the G7 can present a united front on issues such as the tensions in the Middle East, Ukraine and economic security when divisions remain between the United States and its European allies.
Trump has expressed frustration with European countries that have criticized U.S. military action against Iran. Differences persist over the Iran war and Russia's war on Ukraine, with European leaders continuing to advocate for strong support for Kyiv while Trump has taken a more cautious approach.
To avoid highlighting their disagreements, the leaders are not expected to issue a traditional joint communique at the end of the summit. If no overall declaration is released, it would mark the second consecutive G7 summit without one.
Instead, they are working on separate statements for areas in which consensus appears more attainable, including critical mineral supply chains and global economic imbalances.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will be attending her first G7 summit since taking office in October. She plans to propose three principles for strengthening global energy security following disruptions to oil supplies triggered by the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.
Takaichi is also expected to seek G7 cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific, an initiative first put forward in 2016 by then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, amid continued security challenges from countries such as China and North Korea.
France has invited leaders from non-G7 members Brazil, Egypt, India, Kenya and South Korea to participate in select sessions of the summit, as part of the group's outreach to emerging economies and key partners.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to join discussions Tuesday on the war with Russia and diplomatic efforts to secure peace. Middle Eastern leaders are also scheduled to take part in talks on regional security, including the Strait of Hormuz.
Executives from leading artificial intelligence companies, including Anthropic and OpenAI, are expected to join summit discussions on Wednesday focusing on AI development, practical applications and online child safety.
Ahead of the summit, tens of thousands of protesters marched in Geneva on Sunday. While mostly peaceful, some clashed with police, threw rocks and set vehicles on fire, prompting officers to use tear gas.
With Evian-les-Bains located on the southern shore of Lake Geneva, Swiss authorities, working with their French counterparts, have tightened security, deploying around 4,000 troops.
The group, which brings together some of the world's richest countries, has long been a target for anti-globalization and anti-capitalist activists who view it as a symbol of wealth and economic power, with protests frequently accompanying its summits and related meetings.
The G7 consists of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, along with the European Union.
