Posted on 26 May 2023
The G7 summit is an annual international forum, bringing together leaders of G7 member states and the EU to find solutions to issues faced by the global community. This year’s event held from May 19-21 explored a number of key issues, with one of the two dominating perspectives being strengthening outreach to the global south.
The 2023 forum prioritised bringing forward often neglected voices and perspectives, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating before the summit's commencement that he would try to “amplify the voices and concerns of the Global South.”
Mark Brown, Cook Island Prime Minister and Forum Chair, was invited to speak at the summit, and touched on this year's focus on, and collaboration with, the Pacific at the event.
“Whether we are speaking to our Pacific realities caused by rippling effects of conflict and security in other parts of the world, it is clear the G7 leaders also recognise our common future", he said. “It’s significant that we’ve reached a point where the world’s largest and the world’s smallest nations are in the same room, talking and listening."