President Biden plans to sign a bilateral security agreement with the Ukrainian president in Italy during the leaders’ summit.
PUGLIA, Italy—President Joe Biden is heading to Europe on Wednesday to attend the Group of Seven (G7) Summit, which will take place in southern Italy from June 13–15.
The summit will be held in Puglia, also known as Apulia, a region located at the heel of Italy’s boot-shaped peninsula, famous for its rich history, sandy beaches, and olive oil production.
The three-day summit will bring together leaders of the world’s most advanced economies—the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Canada.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is hosting this year’s gathering at the luxury hotel resort of Borgo Egnazia, a site that has hosted many celebrities, such as Madonna, Justin Timberlake, and David Beckham.
President Biden’s trip to Italy follows his five-day visit to France last week, where he commemorated the 80th anniversary of D-Day and attended a state visit to hold bilateral discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron.
In an election year, the G7 summit holds significant importance for President Biden. As with his recent trip to France, he is expected to use the occasion to stress the importance of alliances and oppose isolationism, a stance he often uses to critique his predecessor, former President Donald Trump.
The Vatican confirmed in April that Pope Francis will join the leaders’ summit, participating in a special session on artificial intelligence (AI).
“This is the first time in history that a pontiff will participate in the work of a G7,” Ms. Meloni said on April 26.
By Emel Akan
