The G7 begins today in Borgo Egnazia, where Prime Minister Meloni will welcome the seven Greats. Three days of sessions during which the main international issues will be addressed. The Pope, who will see Biden, is expected on Friday. The American president announces new sanctions against Russia which will hit the Moscow Stock Exchange and the signing of a security agreement with Zelensky. More weapons to defend Ukraine. Stop China’s support for Putin, whose nuclear threats are “irresponsible”.
The main objective of the Italian-led G7 is to ensure that the summit in Borgo Egnazia is remembered as an undoubted success. And it seems closer by the hour. American sources and Elysée sources suggest that the 50 billion dollar loan to Kiev is one step away, the use of frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine increasingly within reach: “there is an agreement” to make it possible by the end of 2024.
The Sherpas are at work, the Italians – led by Elisabetta Belloni – receive compliments from the French for their ability to mediate, to seek solutions, to arrive at a synthesis. Because the knot to unravel is anything but simple, linked to a series of unknowns about the solidarity fund proposed by the Americans to reach out to Ukraine.
We are working to overcome the technical obstacles, because the problem of guarantees continues to cast shadows on the agreement. Starting from the risk that rates could fall, generating fewer extra profits; not to mention a change in the American administration, with the Trump unknown hanging in the air. Furthermore, the possibility that sooner or later a peace agreement will be reached would paradoxically bring with it a problem: a stop to sanctions with the loan still standing.
The road is tortuous, but optimism here in Puglia seems to prevail. Even if, on the eve of the summit, a new problem breaks out in Borgo Egnazia. While the Sherpas are working on the conclusions, rumors are circulating about the elimination, in the draft, of a passage aimed at underlining the importance of guaranteeing “effective and safe access to abortion”, among the points included in the Hiroshima summit.
G7, the first clash is over abortion
Ilario Lombardo, Marco Bresolin
Some states, including France, have asked to ‘strengthen’ the concept, making it more incisive. A request that would have generated an impasse, so much so as to push the Italian-led G7 presidency to specify that «no state has asked to eliminate the reference to issues relating to abortion from the draft conclusions of the G7 summit, as reported by some bodies of the press in a phase in which the negotiation dynamics are still ongoing. Everything that will be included in the final document – it is pointed out – will be a final point resulting from a negotiation between the G7 members”. That is to say that the question is still open, the square to be found.
The program for Thursday 13 June
After the arrival of the leaders and the welcome of Giorgia Meloni with the usual photo, today, at 12.45, the session on the Middle East begins. On this point, from the draft circulated in advance, it appears that the G7 leaders will ask Hamas to accept the ceasefire agreement outlined by US President Joe Biden. In the document the allies will urge Israel to de-escalate a “large-scale military offensive” in Rafah, in line with the indications ordered by the International Court of Justice. “We urge countries that have influence over Hamas” to help ensure that it accepts a ceasefire, the draft G7 statement says.
In the afternoon, at 2.15pm, the third session, first with Zelensky, then only G7 on Ukraine: from the draft declaration the leaders will warn Russia against “irresponsible” nuclear threats. Bilateral meetings will follow at 4pm: among these, a Meloni-Modi face-to-face meeting and a Meloni-Biden meeting.
At 5pm event on Partnership for global infrastructure and investment. At 6pm flag ceremony, followed by the family photo.
In the evening, the gala dinner hosted by President Sergio Mattarella at the Castello Svevo in Brindisi.
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