Canadian G7 summit gears up around geopolitics

THE G7 was founded half a century ago to facilitate shared macroeconomic initiatives in response to 1970s challenges, including the then-energy shock, and the ensuing international recession. However, the body has evolved into much more of a powerful geopolitical actor in the decades since.

This core fact will be crystal clear at the Canadian-hosted leadership summit from Sunday (Jun 15) to Tuesday in Kananaskis, Alberta. Top of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s major priorities for the event is “protecting our communities and the world” which he defines as “strengthening peace and security, countering foreign interference and transnational crime”.

To this end, key topics at the G7 include: preserving Ukraine’s long-term prosperity and security; regional peace and stability in the Middle East; cooperation to increase security and resilience across the Asia-Pacific region; building stability and resilience in Haiti and Venezuela; supporting enduring peace in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and strengthening sanctions and countering hybrid warfare and sabotage.