The second day of the G7 in Puglia began on Friday, the meeting of the heads of state and government of the seven most influential democracies in the world. It will last until Saturday and is taking place in Borgo Egnazia, a complex of villas and luxury buildings which has long been a very popular place among politicians and famous people for events, weddings or simple holidays. Among the main issues of this G7 there is a loan of more than 50 billion euros to finance the military resistance of Ukraine, on which there is already an agreement, but climate change, the Middle East, migration, economic security, with particular attention to relations between the West and China.
After the welcome ceremony – with which Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed the leaders of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and the United States, as well as the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the Prime Minister European Charles Michel – the meetings are taking place between meetings in the canonical format of the G7, therefore with only the leaders present, each accompanied by a single diplomatic advisor (called “sherpas”, in jargon), or in an expanded format, with the participation of others specially invited heads of state or government, or in a bilateral manner. This morning Meloni had a meeting with US President Joe Biden, and in the afternoon she welcomed Argentine President Javier Milei.
The proceedings are often interspersed with lighter moments, in which the leaders seem to genuinely enjoy themselves: yesterday, for example, the leaders witnessed a show of parachutists with the flags of the G7 countries, who were gliding over a large golf course on where the leaders had arrived in vintage Italian cars. In the evening there was then a gala dinner attended by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella.
– Read also: The “Sherpas” make the G7 work
