Syria invited to G7 summit

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is expected to attend the Group of Seven summit in France on June 15-17 as a guest-nation representative, according to a Jerusalem Post report published on May 23 that cited Reuters and three sources familiar with the matter. The report said the visit would be Syria's first participation in a G7 summit since the forum was founded in 1975. France's presidency website and the European Council both list the 2026 summit as taking place in Evian from June 15 to 17. ### How did the reported invitation surface? The Jerusalem Post said on May 23 that Reuters had reported Syria would attend the summit next month as a guest nation and be represented by al-Sharaa. The paper said Reuters cited three sources familiar with the matter. Yisr Barnieh, Syria's finance minister, received the invitation in Paris earlier this week, according to the same Reuters account quoted by the Jerusalem Post. (jpost.com) The paper said one source described the invitation as having been hand-delivered during the group's financial talks in the French capital. ### What is confirmed by official G7 hosts? (jpost.com) The Elysee Palace says the 2026 G7 summit will be held in Evian from June 15 to 17. The European Council carries the same dates and says agenda highlights and press material will be published closer to the meeting. France's public summit pages reviewed on May 23 did not, in the material available, list guest-country participants. (jpost.com) That means the summit dates and venue are official, while Syria's attendance remains based on the reported invitation cited by the Jerusalem Post from Reuters. ### Why would this be unusual for Syria? The Jerusalem Post said the reported trip would mark Syria's first participation in a summit of the group since the G7 forum was founded in 1975. (elysee.fr) That would place Damascus at a meeting normally reserved for the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain, the United States and the European Union. (jpost.com) Ahmed al-Sharaa has already appeared in other diplomatic settings since taking office. A Reuters report carried by the Jerusalem Post in September 2025 said he arrived in New York for United Nations General Assembly meetings, described there as the first participation by a Syrian president since 1967. ### What else is Damascus doing at the same time? (jpost.com) The Jerusalem Post said Syria is seeking meetings with NATO and the World Health Organization as part of a broader push into international institutions. The paper also said Syrian forces had taken part in Turkey's EFES 2026 military drills, which it described as exercises involving troops from 50 countries. (jpost.com) The same report said Syria's state news agency SANA on May 23 highlighted outreach involving the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's human rights commission. The Jerusalem Post described that activity alongside the G7 invitation as part of Syria's effort to strengthen ties with international organizations. ### What happens next before the summit opens? (jpost.com) June 15 is the next fixed date in the story. That is when France is due to open the G7 summit in Evian, according to the Elysee Palace and the European Council, which said additional agenda and press information will be posted in the run-up to the meeting. (elysee.fr) (jpost.com)