G7 Leaders, Expanding the Circle, Shift Focus to Migration and the South
The G7 Summit in Biarritz, France, was a significant event for the global economy, as the leaders of the world’s seven largest advanced economies discussed a range of pressing issues, including trade, climate change, and global security. However, the summit also marked a shift in focus towards migration and the global South, with leaders from Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean participating in the discussions.
The inclusion of leaders from the global South was a deliberate move by French President Emmanuel Macron, who sought to expand the circle of participants and broaden the scope of the discussions. This shift in focus was reflected in the agenda, which included a session on migration and a meeting with African leaders to discuss cooperation on issues such as security, education, and climate change.
The migration session was particularly significant, as it came at a time when migration has become a contentious issue in many countries, including those represented by the G7. The leaders discussed ways to address the root causes of migration, such as poverty, conflict, and lack of opportunities, and to find solutions that are both humane and effective.
The leaders also discussed the need to improve the management of migration, including the need for better cooperation between countries and the need to ensure that migrants are treated with dignity and respect. This was a departure from the more restrictive and punitive approaches to migration that have been adopted by some G7 countries in recent years.
The inclusion of leaders from the global South was also significant in terms of the broader relationship between the G7 and the global South. The G7 has traditionally been dominated by the interests of the advanced economies, and there has been criticism that the group has not done enough to address the challenges facing the global South. The inclusion of leaders from the global South in the discussions was a recognition of the need to engage more closely with the global South and to address the issues that are important to them.