Syria to attend G7 summit for first time since its founding in 1975

Syria is set to attend the G7 summit in France next month as a guest nation and will be represented by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, marking the country’s first participation in the group since its founding in 1975, Reuters reports, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The sources said an invitation for Sharaa to attend the June 15–17 summit in Évian-les-Bains, southeastern France, was hand-delivered to Syrian Finance Minister Yisr Barnieh, who took part in the group’s financial talks in Paris earlier this week.

The country’s participation is expected to focus on its role as a “potential strategic hub for supply chains” following disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Shipping through the Strait has been largely disrupted since the Iran war erupted at the end of February, with knock-on effects across global trade.

Syria, which is emerging from a 14-year civil war and aligning more closely with Western partners, is seeking to rebuild an economy heavily damaged by years of conflict and sanctions.

Although many sanctions imposed under former presidents Hafez and Bashar al-Assad have since been eased, efforts to attract foreign investment and restore normal banking relations have progressed more slowly than anticipated.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov