The Group of Seven convenes this week in what amounts to a test of whether the world's richest democracies can still operate as a unified bloc. The summit, beginning Monday, arrives at a moment when that unity looks increasingly fragile.
For decades, G7 gatherings represented the cornerstone of the postwar global order. Leaders would meet, align on trade, security, and diplomacy, and project shared values to the rest of the world. That script no longer holds.
This year's meeting carries the weight of deep internal divisions, with former and potential future U.S. leadership creating turbulence that the other six members struggle to navigate. The alliance that once seemed automatic now requires active negotiation just to produce a joint statement.
The fractures expose a broader reality. The institutions built to manage global affairs after World War II are creaking under pressure from nationalism, geopolitical competition, and the return of great power rivalry. When the seven largest advanced economies cannot find common ground on basic principles, the entire architecture of international cooperation faces questions about its relevance and durability.
Observers will watch closely to see whether this week's gathering produces the usual display of solidarity or becomes another public reminder of how much the global order has shifted. The outcome matters less for what gets announced than for what it reveals about whether the G7 still functions as intended.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "The G7's relevance has always depended on America showing up as a committed partner, and that commitment is no longer a given."
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