G7 Summit Set to Open in Evian-les-Bains

The Group of Seven summit is scheduled to open Monday in Evian-les-Bains, France. The participating countries are the United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

French authorities have stationed nearly 16,000 personnel around the Evian area. Swiss and French authorities closed 25 of 35 road border crossings between Switzerland and France and approved the use of boats, drones, and mounted units. Al Jazeera reported that Swiss authorities approved the deployment of 2,000 to 5,000 military personnel to support cantonal police.

Thousands of protesters are expected in Geneva on Sunday, organized by the No-G7 coalition that includes more than 60 associations. The coalition had planned events on the French side of the border but abandoned those plans after French officials imposed conditions. Geneva's Security Minister Carole-Anne Kast said France did not create conditions for a counter-summit.

The coalition's spokesperson, Francoise Nyffeler, said participants fear the policies of G7 leaders. "We are very afraid of the policy and the politics of Mr Trump and also of the other leaders of the G7, because they are fighting, making war all over the place," Nyffeler said June 14, 2026.

Demonstrators carried banners criticizing the G7 for favoring wealthy nations over the global population. Al Jazeera correspondent Natacha Butler reported that participants said the group's decisions negatively affect climate, equal rights, and poverty.

The bloc's share of global GDP has fallen from 70 percent to 40 percent while representing one-tenth of the world's population. The BRICS group has expanded from five to 11 members during the same period.

Businesses in Geneva boarded up storefronts ahead of the summit, recalling damage that occurred during a similar meeting in Evian in 2003.