G7 leaders focused on migration on the second day of their summit on Friday, looking at ways to combat human trafficking and boost investment in countries where migrants embark on life-risking journeys.
Other key topics discussed at the meeting, held in a luxury resort in Italy's southern Puglia region, include financial aid to Ukraine, the Gaza war, artificial intelligence and climate change, and China's industrial policy and economic security.
But disagreements also appeared to emerge over the wording of the summit's final declaration, with reports of disagreement over whether it should include any reference to abortion.
Migration is a particular concern for Italy, the host country of the summit, because the country lies on one of the main routes into the European Union for people fleeing war and poverty in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Biden (left) is welcomed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during the G7 summit in Borgo Egnazia, Italy. (Luca Bruno/AP)
“Italy wanted to devote sufficient space to Africa, another continent with its challenges and opportunities, but also important for the future of all of us,” Meloni said at the summit's opening ceremony on Thursday.
“Relevant to Africa, but not exclusively, there is another fundamental issue at the heart of Italy's presidency: migration, and the increasingly worrying role played by human trafficking rings, apparently exploiting people's desperation,” she said.
Meloni has a controversial five-year agreement with neighbouring Albania that will see the country take in thousands of refugees while Italy processes their asylum applications.
She has also spearheaded the “Matei Plan,” a strategy to increase domestic economic opportunities across the continent and curb migration to Europe.
Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) shake hands after signing a security agreement on the sidelines of the G7. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)
The United States is also struggling with an increase in migrants at its southern border, and President Joe Biden has introduced new policies to curb them after a bill he tried to pass through Congress failed to pass.
Immigrant rights groups filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging the new policy, but it is unclear whether the case will hold up in a U.S. court.
European Council President Charles Michel said after arriving at the summit that tackling migration was a “common challenge”.
“This is the path we are trying to establish with our partners: this coalition to fight against smugglers and criminal gangs who abuse (vulnerable people) for financial gain and to destabilize communities and countries around the world,” he added.
The Italian hosts also invited other G7 nations – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US – as well as several African leaders, including Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Kenyan President William Ruto and Tunisian President Kais Saied, to promote Meloni's migration and development vision.
Pope Francis will deliver a speech on artificial intelligence on Friday, becoming the first pope to address a G7 summit.
Other guests included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
