South Korean President Lee Jae-myung Heads to Canada for G7 Debut

President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea is making his diplomatic debut by attending the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada shortly after his inauguration in June 2025. Invited as a guest, Lee aims to build trust with world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, in order to address pressing economic, trade, and security challenges. His participation at the summit is seen as a signal that South Korea's diplomacy is back on track after a period of political instability. Lee is scheduled to deliver remarks on energy supply chain resilience and South Korea's role in the global artificial intelligence ecosystem, enhancing his country's standing as part of the 'G7 Plus' group. Meanwhile, President Trump returns to the G7 summit amid tensions from trade disputes and Middle East conflicts, with expectations of efforts to present a unified front despite ongoing disagreements. The summit includes the core G7 members and additional leaders from India, Ukraine, Mexico, South Africa, and the United Nations, emphasizing global cooperation on economic and geopolitical issues.