Beset by problems at home, G7 leaders to gather in Italy to confront global woes
- Ukraine, Middle East, China and AI are on the agenda as leaders of the G7 wealthy nations prepare to meet in southern Italy
US President Joe Biden faces a polarised electorate and dismal approval ratings ahead of a re-election bid in November while British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak looks certain to lose power in a national vote next month.
The leaders of France and Germany, Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz, are reeling from heavy defeats in recent European elections, and opinion polls are bleak for the prime ministers of both Canada and Japan.
Only the host, Italian premier Giorgia Meloni, will arrive on a high after triumphing in Italy’s EU election, but she will have a hard time trying to achieve meaningful results in the luxury Borgo Egnazia resort, political analysts say.
“As the G7 host you want fully empowered leaders. If you only have lame ducks there isn’t much you can do,” said Francesco Galietti, founder of political risk firm Policy Sonar.
