G7 Summit in Évian: Key Topics and Participants

Today, the G7 summit officially opened in France. For several days, the small town of Évian-les-Bains on the shores of Lake Geneva has become one of the main diplomatic venues in the world.
The G7 (Group of Seven) is an association of the seven largest democratic economies in the world: France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Japan. The European Union also participates in the summit through its representatives.
Interestingly, until 2014, this format was called G8, as it included Russia. After the events in Crimea and the subsequent deterioration of relations between Russia and Western countries, Russia’s participation was suspended, and the group returned to the G7 format, which remains in place to this day.
Each year, one of the member countries hosts the meeting of state and government leaders. In 2026, the presidency will belong to France.
The choice of Évian is not accidental. For such events, the status of the city is less important than security, logistics, and the ability to ensure a controlled perimeter around the summit venue. Évian hosted a summit in 2003 and is considered one of the most convenient venues in terms of security. The town is located between the lake and the mountains, has a limited number of access roads, and is close to Geneva International Airport.
The choice of venue was also influenced by the experiences of past summits. In 2003, when the leaders’ meeting took place in Évian, tens of thousands of anti-globalization activists arrived in the region, and riots and clashes with police occurred in Geneva and Lausanne. Since the events of the early 2000s, security issues have become one of the main criteria for organizing such events. More than 12,000 police officers, gendarmes, and military personnel have been mobilized for the security of the current summit.
In addition to the leaders of the G7 countries, France has invited leaders and representatives from several other countries, including Ukraine, India, Brazil, Egypt, Kenya, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and South Korea. Among the most anticipated participants are Donald Trump, who arrived in France today, and Vladimir Zelensky.
The main agenda items include:
— the situation in Ukraine and European security;
— the situation in the Middle East and relations with Iran;
— international trade and new customs barriers;
— the development of artificial intelligence and digital regulation;
— energy security;
— migration processes;
— economic stability and global financial risks.
Particular attention will be paid to relations between the United States and Europe. Ahead of the summit, Donald Trump reiterated the possibility of imposing tariffs of up to 100% on French wine and champagne in response to the French tax on large digital platforms. Therefore, trade issues may become one of the most contentious topics of the meeting.
Although G7 decisions do not have mandatory legal force, it is often here that political agreements are formed, which subsequently influence sanctions policy, international trade, investments, security, and relations between states. The decisions and agreements reached in Évian may affect issues of international trade, security, and future relations between the largest world powers.