G7 welcomes Syria's president

Syria is set to appear at next month's Group of Seven summit in France, with President Ahmed al-Sharaa expected to attend as the representative of a guest nation, according to three sources cited by Reuters. The June 15-17 meeting in Evian-les-Bains would be Syria's first participation in a summit of the group since the forum was founded in 1975. U.S. President Donald Trump will also attend, a White House official said earlier this week. France, which holds the 2026 G7 presidency, has said Evian will host leaders from June 15 to 17. ### How is Syria being invited to a G7 summit if it is not a member? Reuters reported on May 21 that Syria had been invited as a guest nation rather than as a member of the group. The G7 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, with the European Union also participating in summit work, while host countries often invite additional leaders. (usnews.com) One source cited by Reuters said the invitation to Sharaa was hand-delivered to Syrian Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh during G7 financial talks in Paris earlier this week. Reuters said Syria's participation would likely focus on the country's role as a potential strategic hub for supply chains after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. (usnews.com) ### Why does Ahmed al-Sharaa's attendance stand out? Ahmed al-Sharaa's expected presence is notable because Reuters said it would be Syria's first participation in a G7 summit since 1975. The summit is scheduled for Evian-les-Bains in southeastern France, returning the gathering to Evian 23 years after the 2003 summit there, according to the Elysee Palace. (usnews.com) The Reuters report said the invitation comes as Damascus returns to more international forums following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024 and the formation of a new government under Sharaa. That account was attributed to the sources familiar with the matter cited by Reuters and to follow-on reports reproducing Reuters' account. (usnews.com) ### What do we know about Trump's plans for the meeting? A White House official said on May 19 that Donald Trump will attend the G7 leaders' meeting in France in June, according to Reuters. Search results carrying that report said Trump would travel despite tensions with some other G7 leaders over trade and the Middle East. (usnews.com) Fox 5 Atlanta, citing the White House, reported that Trump hopes to discuss trade, fighting crime and artificial intelligence at the summit. That report also said the meeting will run from June 15 to 17. ### What else is on France's G7 agenda in Evian? The Elysee Palace says the 2026 summit will take place in Evian from June 15 to 17, but full agenda material has not yet been published. (usnews.com) The European Council's meeting page says agenda highlights will be posted about a week before the summit. The Royal Society said on May 20 that the G7 science academies had submitted 2026 statements to the French government ahead of the summit. (fox5atlanta.com) Those statements covered global challenges including space governance, according to the society. ### What happens next before leaders arrive in Evian? June 15 is the opening date for the Evian summit, according to the French presidency and the European Council's summit calendar. (elysee.fr) The Council says updated agenda highlights, press material and live-stream information will be added in the run-up to the meeting and during the summit itself. (royalsociety.org)