A dream setting for a meeting under high tension.
It is in a magical setting bathed in sunshine that the American, French, British, Canadian, Italian, Japanese and German leaders of the G7 met on Sunday at the Château d'Elmau, a luxury bubble placed under high security at the foot of the Bavarian Alps.
The opportunity for the seven leaders - who play a crucial role in the coordination of the sanctions initiated against Russia and in the aid provided to kyiv following the conflict triggered by Vladimir Putin in Ukraine at the end of February - to test their cohesion and to curb the risks of global food shortage and energy shock.
An entire program.
1.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau, President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pose opposite in the Bavarian Alps, at Elmau Castle, for the opening of the G7.
Michael Kappelle /dpa / Iconsport PictureAlliance / Icon Sport
2. European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, here alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his wife Britta Ernst, was also invited to participate in the leaders' discussions.
Susan Walsh / AFP AFP or licensors
3. A relaxed atmosphere for a topic that could not be more serious.
It was in the Yoga pavilion that the leaders of the G7 discussed the global economy this afternoon, and in particular investing 600 billion dollars in a global infrastructure program.
US President Joe Biden attends a working lunch with other G7 leaders to discuss shaping the global economy at the Yoga Pavilion, Schloss Elmau in Kuren, Germany, June 26, 2022. Kenny Holston/Pool via REUTERS
4. With the conflict in Ukraine on everyone's lips, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned French President Emmanuel Macron against the temptation of a negotiated solution "now" in Ukraine at the risk of prolonging "global instability" .
John MacDougall/Pool via REUTERS AFP or licensors
5. As at each G7, many demonstrators were present in the villages around the meeting place.
A real concern for the German authorities, who want at all costs to avoid repeating the violent demonstrations of the G 20 summit in 2017 in Hamburg.
Philipp von Ditfurth / dpa / Photo by Icon sport PictureAlliance / Icon Sport
6. Many others had come to demonstrate against the war in Ukraine, demanding concrete action from the members of the G7.
REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay
7. Leaders' wives also play the game of diplomacy.
Here, the French Brigitte Macron, enjoys Nordic walking alongside Miriam Neureuther, a former biathlete, and the wives of Boris Johnson and Olaf Scholz, Carrie Johnson and Britta Ernst.
Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / dpa / Icon sport PictureAlliance / Icon Sport
