The G7 summit is the big stage for French President Emmanuel Macron this year. The first guests have already arrived at Evian’s historic Hotel Royal, among them Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Brazil is not part of the exclusive G7 club, which includes France, the United States, Germany, the UK, Japan, Italy and Canada. But Macron has deliberately invited many key partners beyond the grouping to this summit, expanding the table for some meetings.
Red carpet, bright sunshine, sweeping views of the Alps and the deep blue waters of Lake Geneva – the setting is picture-perfect. There is also a sense of relief: Hours before the summit, US President Donald Trump and Iran announced a framework agreement aimed at ending their conflict.
The agreement is expected to dominate the discussion at Evian, not least because of what it means for Europe. The focus will be on how European countries can support the agreement and contribute to stabilizing the region.
This deal is a political success for Trump. So the unexpected guest of the summit may arrive in a positive mood. European leaders will be hoping to use that momentum to draw the US president’s attention back to Ukraine.
A key question will be how to open new peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, working together with the US and European allies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to arrive in Evian on Tuesday morning, adding urgency to those discussions.
The beautiful conference hotel has been completely sealed. Here, leaders have the time and space to focus on major global challenges away from the public eye and political noise.
Security around Hotel Royal is at the highest level. Without proper clearance, there is no entry. Checkpoints block roads within a radius of several kilometers.
For locals, daily life has come to a halt. “Everything is blocked off,” says one restaurant owner, adding that residents are frustrated with the continued controls and are largely staying home.