The G7 summit convened at Kananaskis, Alberta, for a compact two-day session focused on the global economy and energy security. Yet on day one, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would depart early, citing the intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran.
“I have to be back, very important,” Trump told reporters Monday night. “You probably see what I see, and I have to be back as soon as I can.” His move left leaders from France, Germany, and the UK—Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz, and Keir Starmer—scrambling to secure consensus on a joint de-escalation statement.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa held a press conference defending Israel’s right to self-defense and warning against Iran obtaining nuclear capability. Trump’s refusal to endorse the statement revealed a widening gulf between the United States and its G7 partners.
Trade quickly took center stage as discussions shifted to tariffs. After a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump quipped that their deadlock stems from “different concepts” on tariffs. “I have a tariff concept and Mark has a different concept,” he said. Despite the standoff, Trump and the UK finalized a deal set to slash tariffs and boost jobs and income on both sides.
In a broader reflection, Trump suggested reinstating Russia at the G8 table, arguing that conflict in Ukraine might have been avoided had Russia not been removed. His comments underscored divergent views on global security among G7 members.
As the summit moves forward with a slimmed-down agenda, all eyes are on how the remaining leaders will bridge gaps on security and trade before wrapping up the two-day meeting.
Reference(s):
Trump leaves G7 summit early, splits emerge on Israel-Iran and trade
cgtn.com
