President Biden awkwardly saluted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as he arrived at the G7 summit in Italy on Thursday.
Biden, 81, was the last of the world leaders to arrive at the venue in southern Puglia as he shuffled onto the stage where Meloni was waiting.
The two spoke for a few moments before Meloni pointed toward a frame of the G7 logo, which each leader in attendance signed with a marker.
President Biden awkwardly saluted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as he arrived at the G7 summit in Italy on Thursday. Reuters
Biden, 81, was the last of the world leaders to arrive at the venue in southern Puglia as he shuffled onto the stage where Meloni was waiting. ReutersAs he began to walk off the platform, Biden raised his right hand over his eye and saluted his Italian counterpart.
The G7 is an informal forum with an annual summit to discuss economic policy and security issues.
The members involved in the forum are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Following their individual greetings, Biden and Meloni were rejoined on the platform by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The two spoke for a few moments before Meloni pointed toward a frame of the G7 logo, which each leader in attendance signed with a marker. REUTERS
Biden awkwardly gave Meloni a hug. Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse/ShutterstockDuring the three-day summit, talks are expected to focus on global conflicts, the spread of artificial intelligence and Africa issues, along with pledges of new assistance to help Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Pope Francis will be the first pope to address the G7 summit when he arrives Friday to discuss the perils of AI.
The pope is also expected to renew his appeal for peaceful ends to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Biden greets European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (second right) during a welcome ceremony on day one of the 50th G7 summit. Getty ImagesBefore the leaders arrived at the summit, an agreement was in the works to loan $50 million to Ukraine from the interest gained from Russia’s frozen central bank assets as collateral.
The US would provide the majority of the funds through a loan, backed by windfall profits being earned on roughly $300 billion in immobilized Russian assets.
The vast majority of the money is being held in European Union nations.
The members involved in the forum are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. REUTERSBiden’s awkward moment among the world leaders comes days after he remained virtually motionless for nearly a minute during a Juneteenth musical performance at the White House
The 81-year-old president stood still as his gaze was fixed on the stage when gospel singer Kirk Franklin performed his song “Love Theory” as Vice President Kamala Harris, second gentleman Doug Emhoff and other dignitaries danced.
With Post wires
