The G7 summit opened amid protests.

The G7 summit opened on Monday (June 15) in Evian-les-Bains, France, amid ongoing protests outside the venue.

According to reports from Xinhua News Agency and China News Service, the three-day G7 summit will focus on topics such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the situation in the Middle East, balanced, shared and sustainable economic growth, and artificial intelligence (AI). In addition to the G7 leaders, leaders from more than 10 countries and international organizations, including Brazil, South Korea, India, Kenya, Egypt, and Ukraine, have also been invited to attend.

French President Emmanuel Macron posted on social media that France would work with "allies and partners" during the summit to push for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. In an interview with France 1 television at the summit, he said the G7 would hold a meeting on Iran on the 16th to work towards ensuring the implementation of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran.

US President Donald Trump arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, aboard Air Force One that day, and then traveled to Evian-Lebanon to attend the G7 summit. His meeting with Macron was Trump's first official event during the summit. Trump has not yet confirmed whether he will hold bilateral talks with other participating leaders.

At the start of the talks, Macron congratulated Trump on the confirmation of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran to end the war, calling it an "important step" toward peace. He also stated that France was willing to provide relevant support and assistance, including helping with mine clearance in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said he believes the United States "doesn't need much help" to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. He also stated that the Strait of Hormuz is currently "partially open" and will be fully open after the United States and Iran formally sign a memorandum of understanding on the 19th. He added that U.S. Vice President Vance will attend the signing ceremony on the 19th.

Starting on the afternoon of the 14th, large-scale protests against the G7 summit began in Geneva, Switzerland, more than 40 kilometers from the summit venue. The French newspaper Le Monde, citing police sources, reported that approximately 20,000 demonstrators participated in the protests around 7 pm on the 14th. Several clashes occurred between protesters and police near the UN headquarters in Geneva.

Since the 11th, shops in prime locations in Geneva's city center and the old town government building have been installing sturdy wooden protective barriers. With storefronts blocked off, only narrow entrances and exits remain, to prevent potential looting and vandalism during the protests.

Switzerland has recently tightened security, deploying 4,000 military and police personnel along its border and closing 25 road crossings along the Swiss-French border starting on the 11th. According to French media reports, France has deployed approximately 16,000 police officers and gendarmes for the summit.

The G7 summit, which no longer represents the global geopolitical landscape, removed climate change and the response to global warming from its agenda to appease the United States, a "major oversight."

An article on the website of the French newspaper La Tribune argues that while France chose to include "reducing global economic imbalances" on the G7 summit agenda, it neglected other "major imbalances," such as the debt crisis in the Global South, the extreme concentration of global wealth, and outdated international tax systems.

The G7 consists of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan. France is the chair of this year's G7 summit.

Source: [Lianhe Zaobao] (https://www.zaobao.com/news/world/story20260616-9212632)