Mass Protests Erupt in Geneva Ahead of G7 Summit in France

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sunday to protest the forthcoming G7 summit in France.

The three‑day summit will commence on Monday in the French resort town of Evian‑les‑Bains, where leaders are expected to address topics such as the Middle East, Ukraine and global economic imbalances.

Many of the leaders are scheduled to arrive at Geneva Airport before traveling onward to Evian‑les‑Bains.

Clashes erupted between protesters and police near the United Nations headquarters in Geneva on Sunday, with demonstrators throwing bottles, stones, cement fragments and firecrackers. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons.

Geneva police spokesperson Alexandre Brahier estimated that around 20,000 demonstrators participated, among them roughly 600 self‑identified “Black Bloc” activists.

Authorities noted that environmental activists, feminists, anti‑imperialism advocates, defenders of independent media, supporters of Palestinian rights and other groups assembled in a lakeside park in Geneva for the march.

The confrontation persisted into the evening following several incidents, including a vehicle set on fire and a bank’s windows shattered, according to media reports.

French and Swiss authorities deploy thousands of police

Swiss and French security agencies announced the deployment of thousands of officers to safeguard the three‑day summit. In France, more than 13,000 police and gendarmerie personnel will be stationed in the bordering summit zone. Additionally, over 800 border control officers will be on duty, a significant increase from the usual complement of about 60.

In addition to the heightened police presence, authorities have closed off roads, prohibited unauthorized assemblies and pledged financial assistance to businesses that might suffer losses due to the unrest.

Numerous establishments in the French resort town have boarded up their storefronts with wooden panels as a precautionary measure.

Local resident Robin Hedz described the situation as a “mess” and expressed confusion over the pervasive “wooden walls,” while recalling the damage caused during the 2003 summit.

The G7 summit marks the first major international gathering since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28.

Since then, the conflict has destabilised the already fragile Middle East, imposed a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz — a critical conduit for roughly 20% of global shipping — and contributed to rising worldwide energy prices.

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