LAME DUCK SUMMIT?

The 50th summit of the Group of Seven (G7) held in Fasano, Brindisi (Italy) became a significant event in the global political agenda. In accordance with tradition, the summit was attended by the leaders of the seven most economically developed and politically influential Western countries, as well as the Presidents of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the European Council, Charles Michel.

The primary subjects of discussion at this meeting were the provision of assistance to Ukraine, the climate agenda, the migration crisis, assistance to Africa, and the resolution of the conflict in Gaza.

Aid to Ukraine, Gaza and Refugees

The G7 countries agreed at the meeting to utilise frozen Russian assets to provide assistance to Ukraine. The G7 countries agreed that Kiev would receive a loan of approximately $50 billion, which would be repaid from future interest on the Russian assets.

On 13 June, the presidents of the United States, Joe Biden, and Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, signed a 10-year security agreement on the margins of the G7. The document states, in particular, that: The parties view this agreement as a provisional measure that may facilitate Ukraine's eventual membership in NATO. In order to guarantee Ukraine's security, both parties acknowledge that Ukraine requires a substantial military apparatus, robust capabilities, and sustained investment in the military-industrial complex that aligns with the standards set forth by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Japan has also entered into a security agreement with Ukraine. In contrast, sceptics maintain that these agreements do not significantly affect the course and possible outcome of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

In terms of critical assessments of the summit, it is worth mentioning a widely publicised statement in Politico, which ironically described the summit as a meeting of "six lame ducks and Meloni". The statement went on to note that the current gathering looks more like "a secret dinner than a demonstration of Western power". Indeed, the leaders convened in Italy, with the exception of the host, have significant challenges in their respective countries with declining popularity ratings. Furthermore, they are unable to demonstrate the outcomes achieved on any of the specified topics. Moreover, during this period, Russia has continued its military operations in Ukraine, although the intensity of these operations has decreased in line with the growing military support of Western countries to the Ukrainian government.

In Gaza, despite ongoing efforts, the war remains ongoing. Furthermore, the Houthis have imposed a blockade on the Red Sea. The migration crisis, which has been a significant issue in Europe and the United States, has only worsened over the past year. It is sufficient to note that a record number of migrants have sought asylum in Europe in 2023. Moreover, in the United States, the issue has become a dominant topic in the context of ongoing challenges at the US-Mexico border.

Meloni vs Macron

One noteworthy aspect of the summit was the manner in which Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni leveraged her role as host to advance her agenda. It was largely due to her efforts that the topic of supporting Africa in overcoming the continent's socio-economic problems became a key issue on the agenda.

Consequently, Meloni, in her capacity as host, extended an invitation to the presidents of Algeria and Tunisia to attend the G7 meeting. Additionally, the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was invited to attend.

The leaders of Algeria and Turkey are known to be among the most ardent critics of French President Emmanuel Macron's policies. The French leader's strained relations with the Italian prime minister have been well documented for some time. While still a candidate for the premiership, Meloni was highly critical of the Frenchman's migration policy. Consequently, a considerable number of migrants arriving in Europe are unable to enter France and are instead directed to refugee camps in Italy. Consequently, the Italian government is responsible for bearing the significant financial burden associated with the housing and maintenance of refugees from Africa.

With regard to Erdogan's invitation to the summit, it can be argued that it was primarily a political message, intended to convey to France that not only Paris has interests in the Mediterranean. It is therefore evident that the Italian-Turkish interaction in the region is of crucial importance for the security of the Eastern and Central Mediterranean.

The uneasy relationship between Meloni and Macron is evidenced by their disagreement on the sidelines of the summit over the mention of abortion in the final statement. At the insistence of the Italian Prime Minister, this issue was excluded from the draft document, which the French President publicly regretted.

In France, the right to abortion was enshrined in the constitution in March. Macron, who had initiated the process, expressed support for the decision of the legislative assembly. Consequently, Meloni asserted that the government is prepared to provide comprehensive assistance to women in order to prevent them from undergoing abortions, thereby depriving themselves of the opportunity to experience the joy of motherhood.

The Pope and Erdogan: Disparate Perspectives

It is also noteworthy that Pope Francis, who in April issued a robust condemnation of abortion, surrogacy and transgenderism, was also invited to attend the summit.

During the summit, the pontiff offered a critique of artificial intelligence. The essence of his message can be summarized as follows: "It is imperative that no machine should ever be permitted to make the decision to take a human life." In the context of armed conflict, there is a pressing need to reconsider the development and utilisation of devices such as so-called 'lethal autonomous weapons' with a view to banning their deployment.

With regard to the war in Gaza, the parties limited themselves to stating that the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict should end on the basis of peaceful coexistence between the two states and the recognition of Palestine. No indication was provided as to the practical steps that should be taken to achieve this goal.

The Turkish President stated that "Israel's indiscriminate attacks must cease". Furthermore, he emphasised that he expects the G7 to adopt a more equitable and realistic approach to the resolution of global and regional issues.

During the event, President Erdogan engaged in discourse with George Meloni, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and other leaders. Additionally, he engaged in discourse with Joe Biden, who was seated adjacent to him in accordance with the established protocol of the meeting.

At such meetings, the Turkish side attempts to advance the proposition that the existing international system should be restructured. In the period preceding the summit, Fahrettin Altun, the head of the Turkish Presidential Administration's Liaison Office, published an article in Al Jazeera entitled "The G7 Summit and the Need for a Fairer World." In this article, he set forth the Turkish position on a range of global issues.

The African Agenda and the Mattei Plan

With regard to the African agenda of the meeting, it is a sensitive topic for Italy. It is estimated that tens of thousands of refugees make their way to European shores every year, with a significant proportion of these individuals ultimately settling in Italy.

In January, Giorgia Meloni even announced a special "Mattei plan" for Africa. The plan proposes the allocation of 5.5 billion euros for loans and other programmes to African countries with the objective of alleviating the socio-economic challenges that drive emigration from these countries to Europe.

The plan is named after Enrico Mattei, the Italian energy magnate who financed the Algerian liberation struggle against Paris. This is a highly symbolic gesture, particularly given that Italian-French disagreements over European policy towards the Black Continent represent a significant challenge for the EU.

The bilateral meeting between the Italian Prime Minister and the Algerian President, Abdelmajid Tebboune, held on the margins of the G7 summit focused, among other things, on the prospects for the implementation of the Mattei Plan. The discussions between Meloni and Tebboune encompassed a wide range of topics, including cooperation in the Mediterranean and security issues. No details have been made public regarding the meeting between the French and Algerian leaders.

Although G7 decisions are not legally binding, they can nevertheless exert a significant influence on the emergence of new trends in global politics. For example, in 2002, the G7 played a pivotal role in the establishment of a global fund to combat malaria and AIDS. In advance of the G7 summit in the United Kingdom in 2021, the group's finance ministers reached an agreement to implement a tax increase on multinational companies. Furthermore, the group has provided financial assistance to developing countries and established an agenda for action on climate change. The near future will demonstrate the manner in which the current decisions will be implemented.