Newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae-myung made his first international appearance this week at the G7 summit in Alberta, Canada, aiming to assert South Korea’s democratic recovery and economic ambitions. Though not a G7 member, Lee was invited by host Prime Minister Mark Carney and used the platform to pitch South Korea as a future “G7 Plus” member.
The Group of Seven (G7) nations unveiled a coordinated plan on Tuesday to reduce dependence on Chinese-controlled critical mineral supply chains, vital for defense and high-tech industries. While the final statement avoided direct references to China, the policy focus clearly pointed to the need to counter China’s market dominance and disruptive practices.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sent a clear message at this week’s G7 summit when she gave a now-viral eye roll in response to French President Emmanuel Macron.
The United States announced on Tuesday that it has allocated $20 billion in funding for Ukraine, utilizing proceeds earned from frozen Russian assets. The funds are part of a larger $50 billion support package coordinated by the Group of Seven (G7) nations. This financial boost comes just 40 days before President Joe Biden is set to leave office, raising questions about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine under President-elect Donald Trump.
