Kananaskis, Alberta – The Group of Seven may be a small, elite club, but when its leaders gather in Canada, several other national heads will attend as guests — highlighting the group’s efforts to adapt to a fast-changing world.

The leaders of India, Ukraine, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea are among a carefully selected guest list drawn up at a time of global turmoil and a radical new U.S. approach to world affairs.

Summit invitations have become part of the G7 routine, and the host nation often likes to make a « welcome-to-this-exclusive-club » gesture, said Ananya Kumar, of the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center.

« The leaders want to meet each other, and you’ll see the guests being a part of most of the work that happens. »

Some hosts « really want certain guests there to show their significance in the global economy, » she added. This year’s summit in the Canadian Rockies comes as the G7’s share of world GDP has fallen from 63% in 1992 to 44% today, and as member nations deliberate on troubled relations with China and Russia.

« It’s important to think of who will be there in the room as they’re making these decisions, » Kumar said ahead of the three-day event that mixes leadership meetings with « the nitty-gritty ministerial work. »

Fifty years ago, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States formed the G6, first meeting at a French chateau, before Canada joined the following year. Russia itself was a guest in the early 1990s, becoming a full member of the G8 in 1998 before being expelled in 2014.

Notable guests for the summit that starts Sunday include:

Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s presence in Canada is a sign of continuing broad G7 support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion — despite Donald Trump’s skepticism.

The U.S. president regularly criticizes Zelenskyy and has upended the West’s supply of vital military, financial and intelligence assistance to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy aims to use the summit to press for more U.S. sanctions on Moscow, saying last week « I count on having a conversation » with Trump, who wants a quick peace deal.

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