Bromance: Ruto and Macron share a warm hug as G7 Summit starts
President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron shared a warm hug as the G7 Summit officially kicked off in Evian, France, in a moment that highlighted the friendly diplomatic relations between Kenya and France.
The brief but symbolic exchange quickly caught attention after Macron shared a video of the interaction on his official X account on Tuesday evening, June 16, 2026, warmly welcoming the Kenyan leader.
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“Karibu, @WilliamsRuto,” Macron posted alongside the video, signalling a cordial reception as world leaders gathered for the high-level summit.
Ruto in France
Ruto, accompanied by First Lady Rachel Ruto, departed for Evian, France, on Monday night, June 15, 2026, at the invitation of Macron to participate in the G7 Leaders’ Summit, where he will represent Africa and advance the continent’s priorities before the world’s leading economies.
According to State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, the visit is part of Kenya’s broader strategy to deepen international partnerships and expand economic cooperation with leading global economies.
The President is expected to use the platform to advocate for Africa’s development agenda, with a focus on trade, investment flows, debt sustainability, climate finance, and digital transformation.
“President William Ruto departs later tonight for Evian, France, at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron to participate in the G7 Leaders’ Summit, where he will represent Africa and advance the continent’s priorities before the world’s leading economies,” the statement reads.
G7 Summit
The G7 Summit brings together leaders from some of the world’s largest economies, with this year’s discussions expected to shape global policy directions on major issues affecting both developed and developing nations.
Ruto’s participation comes at a time when Kenya is deepening its international partnerships and expanding its role in global governance discussions.
The country has increasingly positioned itself as a key voice for Africa in global economic forums, and Ruto’s presence at the G7 Summit is expected to reinforce that influence.
At the summit, the President is expected to push for reforms that support fairer global financial systems, improved access to climate financing, and greater investment flows into emerging markets across Africa.
Kenya has also been advocating for changes in international financial institutions to ensure they better reflect the priorities and realities of developing economies.
Beyond the summit sessions, Ruto is also expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings with various world leaders and international partners on the sidelines.
These engagements aim to further strengthen Kenya’s diplomatic ties while also attracting investment into key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and technology.
