President Joe Biden, 81, awkwardly saluted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as he arrived at the G7 summit in Italy on Thursday.
Biden 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 AWKWARD SALUTATION
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.
As 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.
MEMBERS OF G7
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.
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WHAT THE G7 SUMMIT IS ALL ABOUT
During 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.
