Seventy-two hours before Italy assumes the rotating presidency of the G7 on January 1, the group formed by the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada and others is at a pivotal moment. South Africa has filed a case with the International Court of Justice alleging crimes against civilians in Gaza. Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, after a brief absence due to illness and the holiday period, did not address this highly sensitive geopolitical topic in his first public remarks. He has repeatedly chosen to avoid commenting on contentious issues that touch on international security.
As with the handover from Japan to Italy, Rome now leads the G7, a club that has shaped Western industrial policy since 1975. The current moment is deeply divided, following Hamas attacks and Israel’s military response in Gaza, which has resulted in heavy casualties and sparked global tensions. The first objective for this year’s meeting is to prevent escalation and contain the conflict, according to senior Italian officials. Yet observers question whether Italy will play a meaningful role beyond ceremonial acts, especially as the Global South voices demand reforms and greater participation in multilateral dialogue.
Global South
Advancing this aim is a signature goal for Meloni. Ahead of the June summit in the Apulia region, he has spoken about placing a greater emphasis on cooperation with African nations and managing migration more effectively. Analysts note that balancing relations between the West and developing regions remains a priority, a theme echoed by international policy experts who highlight the need for more equitable dialogue within the G7 framework.
Evidence of Meloni’s strategic orientation includes past engagements with global leaders and a pattern of outreach to freeranging partnerships in Asia. In the 2023 period, interactions with the Indian prime minister highlighted a trend toward closer ties with New Delhi, set against a backdrop of high-stakes diplomacy and multilateral cooperation. The partnerships shade into broader conversations about how Western powers engage with rising regional players on security, trade, and global governance.
Officials in major capitals have framed these efforts as a move to diversify alignment and reduce dependencies that have historically shaped global decision-making. The broader aim is to de-emphasize binary divides and to pursue pragmatic cooperation that can address shared challenges such as governance, development, and climate resilience.
frictions
The dynamic between Meloni and Modi reflects a broader strategic posture. Italy has signaled a readiness to recalibrate its approach to major powers, including disengaging from traditional economic schemes and pursuing a more autonomous stance in international affairs. The decision to end a prominent Chinese infrastructure initiative within a fixed window indicates a pivot toward a US-aligned, alliance-first posture while keeping doors open for engagement with Beijing on a range of topics. A nuanced balance remains a hallmark, underscored by a stated preference for diplomacy alongside military support in regional crises.
Italy has aligned closely with American strategic objectives, particularly in discussing defense and security matters. At the same time, Meloni has emphasized the importance of seeking peaceful, negotiated solutions to protracted conflicts. This stance comes amid a sense of fatigue among Western governments about ongoing crises and the complexities of global power competition. The administration has also warned of renewed risks from regional instability and the potential for new security shocks, urging coordinated international responses.
Looking ahead, the G7 agenda is expected to expand beyond traditional topics. In addition to counterterrorism efforts and public health preparedness, leaders will likely debate the governance of artificial intelligence, responses to pandemic threats, and the protection of democratic norms in the digital age. These conversations will unfold against a backdrop of evolving threat landscapes and the need for effective multilateral coordination.