The last-minute venue change comes after six weeks of nationwide demonstrations, with French authorities deploying 70,000 police and gendarmes to maintain public order during fresh protests.

France has moved an upcoming G7 foreign ministers' meeting from Marseille to Paris at short notice, citing logistical and operational reasons, as the country faces weeks of nationwide protests and mounting pressure on its security forces.

The meeting, originally scheduled to take place in the Mediterranean port city on November 9 and 10, will now be held in the French capital, according to correspondence sent to participating delegations and seen by Reuters on Thursday.

France informed delegations of the change on Wednesday evening, just days before the gathering.

In the correspondence, organisers said the decision was primarily driven by logistical and operational considerations, pointing to the demands of holding the G7 meeting and the Paris Peace Forum within a compressed timeframe.

The simultaneous events require significant resources for staffing, equipment, security, accommodation and transportation for participating delegations, the correspondence said.

However, the relocation comes amid six weeks of student-led protests that have expanded into broader nationwide demonstrations, stretching security resources.

According to diplomats cited by Reuters, the late decision has caused disruption, with some delegations already having a presence in Marseille and other officials and journalists preparing to travel there. The diplomats described the move as chaotic and warned that it could damage France's international image.

France has witnessed repeated demonstrations since September, when students began protesting against conditions in public high schools. The movement has since broadened to include grievances over the rising cost of living, wages, public services and the government's policies.

Protests on October 17 across several cities, including Marseille, were marked by looting and violent clashes between demonstrators and police. Marseille experienced some of the most serious unrest.

Fresh demonstrations and strikes took place across France on Thursday, November 5, with trade unions and other groups demanding higher wages, an increase in the minimum wage, tax reforms and improvements in public services.

The French Interior Ministry said more than 220 public demonstrations and other actions were expected nationwide, deploying 70,000 police officers and gendarmes to maintain public order.

The foreign ministers' gathering is the second meeting of its kind scheduled during France's 2026 G7 presidency.

The G7 comprises France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy and Japan, with the European Union also participating.

The Paris Peace Forum, an annual international diplomacy conference, is also scheduled for November 9 and 10. Both events had been planned for those dates for several months.

The French Foreign Ministry confirmed the venue change, although the last-minute announcement has raised questions about the organisation of the high-level diplomatic gathering.

The meeting is expected to bring together foreign ministers, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to discuss major international issues. (ILKHA)