Heavy security deployed around Evian for G7 summit

France has deployed about 16,000 security personnel around Evian ahead of the June 15-17 G7 summit, turning the Lake Geneva resort into a tightly controlled security zone as protests in nearby Geneva have already spilled across the border.

Officials said the operation covers roughly 1,670 square kilometers and includes QR-code entry passes, restricted blue and red zones, drone patrols, helicopters, river patrol boats and riot police. Nearly 1,000 military personnel, mainly from the French Air and Space Force, are also part of the deployment, alongside anti-terrorism and cybercrime specialists.

French authorities said the scale of the plan reflects an exceptionally tense international context, along with concerns about sabotage, cyber threats and public-order risks. The cost has not yet been assessed.

Security cordon

The summit site is on the French side of Lake Geneva, but the security footprint extends into a broader cross-border area that affects movement around Evian and the surrounding region. Authorities have created controlled access zones and are using QR-code passes to manage entry.

Le Monde reported that France has also offered to deploy gendarmes to help Swiss forces, while Switzerland is tightening border controls ahead of the summit. Swiss authorities had already prepared with about 5,000 troops and reinforced policing in nearby cantons.

The arrangement is designed to keep protesters away from the summit venue while limiting disruption for workers, residents and local businesses. But the heavy cordon also means tighter movement controls on both sides of the border during the three-day meeting.

Geneva pressure point

Geneva has become the immediate pressure point in the run-up to the summit. AP reported about 20,000 protesters in the city on June 14, with clashes against police, tear gas, water cannons and border disruption. The Times also reported violent anti-G7 protests, arrests and heavy cordons around the summit area.

Those demonstrations matter because Evian and Geneva sit on opposite sides of a narrow cross-border zone, making unrest in the Swiss city a direct operational concern for French and Swiss authorities.

Why officials are concerned

French officials have pointed to sabotage risk, cyber threats and broader public-order concerns as reasons for the size of the deployment. The operation brings together police, gendarmes, military personnel and specialist units intended to cover both physical security and digital threats.

The summit security plan also reflects memories of previous unrest linked to major meetings in the region. Officials are trying to avoid a repeat of spillover disruption while preserving access for essential traffic and summit logistics.

What to watch next

The summit opens on June 15, so the next developments are likely to come from any new protest activity, arrests or changes to border restrictions. French and Swiss authorities may also release fuller details on security costs or any additional coordination measures once the meeting is under way.

For now, the story is centered on whether the heavy security perimeter holds and whether protests in Geneva remain contained or escalate further as leaders arrive.

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