What is the G7 summit — and why are Trump & Albanese there?

Global leaders have gathered in Canada for this week’s G7 Summit.

Although Australia isn’t part of the G7, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will meet with several leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, on the sidelines of the summit.

Here’s what you need to know.

Background

The G7, formed in 1975, is an organization made up of the world’s seven largest advanced global economies: Canada, Italy, the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan. The EU also attends, though is not part of the official number.

Russia was a member of the G7, which used to be called the G8, from 1998 till 2014. It was excluded after it annexed the Ukrainian territory of Crimea, a peninsula on the Black Sea. This is considered illegal under international law.

The main purpose of the G7 is discussions and policy agreements between the world’s largest economies.

Canada

The G7 meets annually, with the meeting location rotates depending on who occupies the G7 presidency that year.

This year, Canada is hosting the G7in the province of Alberta in western Canada. The Canadian Government said the goals of the summit are: “Protecting our communities and the world; Building energy security and accelerating the digital transition; Securing the partnerships of the future.”

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Australia

Although Australia is not a G7 member, Albanese is attending. The G7 allocates time to discuss issues with non-member states.

For example, Albanese met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday morning to discuss Australia’s relationship with Canada. Albanese told Australian media: “Australia and Canada share values. We are long-term allies and we are true friends.” He also said Australia “want[s] to increase our cooperation [with Canada] on security, trade and energy.”

He will also have meetings on the summit’s sideline with other G7 leaders, and European Union President Ursula von der Leyen.

Trump

Albanese will also meet with U.S. President Donald Trump during the summit. It will be the first time the two leaders meet face to face.

Albanese said he will emphasise the importance of AUKUS to both the U.S. and Australia when he meets with Trump. It comes after the U.S. Department of Defense announced plans to review the AUKUS deal. AUKUS is a security partnership between Australia, the U.S, and the UK, first announced in 2021.

He said: “I look forward to building on the very constructive phone conversations that [Trump and I have] had”.

In a post to X, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said Albanese’s meeting with Trump is “in the interest of every Australian this meeting is a success…It’s important the PM gains a reassurance on AUKUS and protects Australia from tariffs.”