Seven New Ice Cream Flavors and the Pope: Italy Prepares to Host G7
Italy is bustling with preparations for the G7 summit set to take place in the picturesque region of Puglia. Attendees face two starkly different accommodation options: the luxurious Borgo Egnazia resort, known for hosting celebrities like Madonna, the Beckhams, and where Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel tied the knot, and a far less glamorous giant ship docked off Brindisi, plagued by water leaks and malfunctioning air conditioning.
The world leaders, including Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Rishi Sunak, and Justin Trudeau, will enjoy the opulence of Borgo Egnazia. Meanwhile, the 2,600 police officers ensuring their security are housed on the substandard ship, which has sparked outrage from unions likening the conditions to ancient slave ships. The Italian government spent €6 million on this ship, which is now under a fraud investigation and has been impounded.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will undoubtedly focus on the summit’s glamour as she hosts global leaders, bolstered by her party’s strong performance in the recent European elections. Her party, the far-right Brothers of Italy, has gained significant traction under her leadership, making her one of the few Western European leaders to strengthen their position recently.
Contrastingly, other G7 leaders face political turbulence. France’s President Macron suffered a major defeat to the far-right National Rally, prompting new parliamentary elections. Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats experienced their worst European election outcome, trailing behind the far-right AfD. Similarly, UK’s Rishi Sunak and Canada’s Justin Trudeau face upcoming electoral challenges, while Joe Biden prepares for a re-election battle against the backdrop of Donald Trump’s potential return.
This political instability casts a shadow over the summit, with low expectations for substantial outcomes. According to Natalie Tocci, director of the Italian Institute for International Affairs, the summit might seem unlucky compared to previous ones marked by renewed multilateral commitment and solidarity after Ukraine’s invasion.
One key agenda item is a plan to loan Ukraine $50 billion from the interest on frozen Russian assets in the West, offering a much-needed lifeline. This compromise has emerged amidst differing opinions on seizing Russian assets outright, with figures like Christine Lagarde, the European Central Bank President, warning against such a move due to potential legal issues.
In addition, Rishi Sunak is set to announce £242 million in support for Ukraine’s energy and humanitarian needs, emphasizing the allies’ commitment to creative and decisive actions against Russia.
The summit will also address the climate crisis, with urgent calls for transitioning to renewable energy, African investment to curb migration, the Middle East following a recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and artificial intelligence, with Pope Francis attending for the first time to advocate for global AI regulation.
To combat perceptions of exclusivity, the G7 has invited leaders from Brazil, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and others to broaden global consensus. Notably, it will be the first international summit for India’s Narendra Modi and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa since their recent electoral losses.
Locals in Puglia, like ice cream maker Vincenzo Iannacone, are excited about their region’s moment in the spotlight. Iannacone has crafted seven new ice cream flavors, each representing a G7 nation, sparking local enthusiasm. He dreams of having his creations served at Borgo Egnazia, though he admits it’s unlikely. “It would be the highlight of my life,” he says, smiling. “But never say never.”
