The G7 summit is being held in Italy, with the agenda including burning issues, such as the war in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as cooperation with Africa. Bolstered and in good spirits, Italy’s right-wing populist Prime Minister Giorgia goes to the G7 summit Meloni, after the positive result for her party in the European elections.

The meeting will take place at the luxurious Borgo Egnazia hotel in Puglia, with Meloni wanting to highlight the most beautiful side of southern Italy, but also the economic development taking place in the region with the help of significant EU funds given to Italy by Pandemic Recovery Fund.

Meloni, the winner of the European elections

“Among the major European countries the Italian government is certainly the strongest by far,” Meloni said confidently before traveling from Rome to Puglia. The French president, the German chancellor and the British prime minister are indeed going through a difficult time. Macron has called an election for June 30, with the risk of the country shifting even further to the right. Olaf Solz’s governing coalition of the SPD, the Greens and the Liberals suffered a heavy defeat in the European elections, while in the July 4th election in Great Britain, conservative Rishi Sunak will likely have to cede office to Labour.

Only Meloni can say that she comfortably won the elections with her right-wing nationalist coalition. And now he wants to have a greater say in developments at the EU level, as well as in the G7. At the same time, he maintains good relations with the American president, Joe Biden – with the US, of course, also being a few months away from the presidential elections. However, Meloni and Biden agree both on important transatlantic issues and on the continuation of support for Ukraine in its defense struggle against Russia.

Weapons and money for Ukraine

The issue of Ukraine is at the top of the agenda of the seven Western states, which are also the ones that support Kiev economically and militarily. Ukrainian President Zelensky, who is asking for more long-range weapons, ammunition and combat air defense systems, is also to take part in the consultations in Apulia. Chancellor Scholtz has already agreed to back G7 talks to send more weapons systems – but some European states are reluctant to increase supplies.

There is a difference of opinion between the G7 countries regarding the presence of Western soldiers in Ukraine. While France and Great Britain are openly in favor of sending military trainers and advisers, Germany, the US and Italy categorically reject any related proposal.

Solz also wants guarantees about the reconstruction of Ukraine after the end of the war. The seven nations and the EU want to agree to send another $50 billion financial aid package to Ukraine. The money will be given in the form of a joint loan, which will then be gradually repaid with the proceeds of the frozen Russian assets. Also, various potential solutions to end the war are discussed.

New plans with Africa

Meloni, who will chair the session, seeks to focus on better cooperation with Africa in the exploitation of raw materials and energy, supply chains and the management of migration flows. Therefore, 12 invitees from African and Indo-Pacific countries will attend to discuss increasing investment in Africa and the joint production of greener energy in Africa for Europe.

Within the G7 there have been many similar initiatives for Africa. However, as the Oxfam organization criticizes, what was always missing were on the one hand specific financial commitments, and on the other a cooperation on equal terms. By spending just 3% of their annual defense spending, the G7 nations could effectively fight hunger in Africa. “G7 governments can invest huge sums in the defense industry, but when it comes to tackling hunger, they suddenly have no money,” Tobias Hauschild of Oxfam Germany said ahead of the summit.

And according to the ONE organization, Western economic activity in Africa has declined in recent years, at a time when several African states are having great difficulty servicing their debts.

Restriction of immigration

EU states are increasingly linking aid to African states with mutual commitments to curb migration flows. The EU is seeking to conclude relevant agreements with Libya, Tunisia, Jordan and Egypt. Human rights organizations criticize this treaty, considering that in this way the EU wants to abdicate its responsibilities.

Meloni promises greater border guarding, as well as conducting asylum procedures outside of Italy – in line with the US on the latter. Recently, the American president limited the ability of immigrants to apply for asylum at the southern border of the USA by executive order. Thus, migrants can now be pushed into Mexico without having gone through the asylum process. Some EU member states are also in favor of the direct rejection of immigrants.

G7 calls for ceasefire in Gaza

Regarding the raging war between Israel and Hamas, the G7 is expected to support the UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire. The seven nations and the EU are calling on Hamas to accept truce terms, a top EU diplomatic official said. Israeli hostages must be freed and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip must end. But diplomats are still not entirely sure whether Israel supports the resolution.

Meloni traveled from earlier to Puglia to enjoy a day of vacation by the pool, reports Corriere della Sera. Borgo Egnazia is also a famous resort, known for its traditional architecture, which has occasionally hosted world stars such as Diego Maradona and Justin Timberlake.

Edited by: Giorgos Passas