President Lee Jae-myung Attends G7 Summit to Discuss Post-War Middle East: Will He Meet Trump?

[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung, currently on a tour of Europe, arrived in France a short while ago to attend the G7 Summit. Leaders are set to discuss the rapidly changing international landscape, including the war in the Middle East. With U.S. President Donald Trump also expected to attend, there is keen interest in whether a South Korea-U.S. summit will take place.

Reporting from Geneva, this is Kang Cheongwan.

[Reporter]

President Lee Jae-myung arrived at the venue for the G7 Summit in Évian, France, on the afternoon of June 16 (local time).

After arriving at Geneva Airport in Switzerland from Rome, Italy, earlier in the day, President Lee traveled by car to Évian, which is about an hour away.

The G7 Summit is a consultative body where leaders from seven nations—the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada—along with representatives from the European Union, gather to discuss international issues.

France holds the presidency this year, and South Korea is participating as an invited country for the second consecutive year, following the G7 summit in Canada last June.

Today, President Lee is scheduled to attend the first session, titled "Building New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity," where he will outline the South Korean government's efforts to support international development aid.

With the U.S. and Iran having reached an agreement on end-of-war negotiations, the post-war international order and issues regarding navigation in the Strait of Hormuz are also expected to be key agenda items at the summit.

[Wi Sung-lac / Director of the National Security Office: This will serve as an important opportunity to solidify South Korea's status as a contributor to resolving global issues on a broader international stage where various pressing international matters are discussed.]

President Lee is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with leaders from various countries. In particular, there is significant interest in whether a surprise meeting, including an informal talk, will take place with U.S. President Donald Trump.

However, a high-ranking official from the Presidential Office stated, "We are keeping the possibility of a meeting open, but it is difficult to say that there has been any concrete progress."

With the final selection for Canada's submarine project approaching next month, the possibility of President Lee meeting separately with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to request that South Korea be awarded the contract is also being discussed.

(Reported by Jung Sang-bo | Video edited by Jang Hyun-ki)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.