G7 summit kicks off under shadow of Ukraine crisis

France's President Emmanuel Macron (left) and his wife Brigitte Macron (center) are greeted by Bavaria's State Premier Markus Soeder (right) and a Bavarian honor guard upon their arrival at the Franz Josef Strauss Airport in Munich, southern Germany on June 25, 2022, on the eve of the G7 summit.
(CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP)

SCHLOSS ELMAU, Germany – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomes leaders of the Group of Seven rich democracies on Sunday to a three-day summit in the Bavarian Alps overshadowed by the crisis in Ukraine and its far-reaching consequences, from energy shortages to a food crisis.

The summit takes place against a darker backdrop than last year when the British, Canadian, French, German, Italian, Japanese and US leaders met for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic and vowed to build back better.

The summit takes place against a darker backdrop than last year when the British, Canadian, French, German, Italian, Japanese and US leaders met for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic and vowed to build back better

Soaring global energy and food prices are hitting economic growth in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The United Nations warned on Friday of an "unprecedented global hunger crisis". Climate change and the rise of authoritarianism are also set to be on the agenda.

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"The main message from the G7 will be unity and coordination of action… That's the main message, that even through difficult times… we stick to our alliance," an EU official said.

The G7 leaders are also expected to discuss options for tackling rising energy prices and replacing Russian oil and gas imports.

The summit takes place at the castle resort of Schloss Elmau at the foot of Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze – the same venue as when the country last hosted the G7 annual meet-up in 2015. 

The summit is also a chance for Scholz to capitalize on being the host by displaying more assertive leadership on the Ukraine crisis.

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The G7 was founded in 1975 as a forum for the richest nations to discuss crises such as the OPEC oil embargo.

Global partners

This year, Scholz has invited as partner countries Senegal, currently chairing the African Union, Argentina, currently heading the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, as well as Indonesia and India, the current and next hosts of the G20 group of large industrial nations, as well as South Africa.

Many countries of the global south are concerned about the collateral damage from western sanctions.

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