Leaders from the world’s most advanced economies convened in the Canadian Rockies this weekend for the annual Group of Seven (G7) summit, an event heavily dominated by escalating violence in the Middle East and ongoing trade disputes, particularly those involving U.S. President Donald Trump’s contentious tariff policies.
The summit coincided with a sharp deterioration in Middle East stability following Israeli military strikes against Iranian targets and Iran’s subsequent retaliatory actions. These developments surprised many global leaders and have heightened fears of a regional conflict.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, en route to the summit, disclosed that he had engaged in dialogue with President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and other key figures to promote de-escalation efforts. In addition, the UK has bolstered its military presence in the region by deploying Royal Air Force jets and additional forces.
“We do have longstanding concerns about the nuclear program Iran has. We do recognise Israel’s right to self-defense, but I’m absolutely clear that this needs to de-escalate. There is a huge risk of escalation for the region and more widely,” Starmer stated. He also anticipated that the summit would feature “intense discussions” on the crisis.
Trade tensions, particularly those stirred by President Trump’s tariff policies, remained a central issue at the summit. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, hosting the event, broke with precedent by deciding not to issue a joint communiqué at the summit’s conclusion, showing the fractious nature of the talks.
The summit’s cohesion was further tested by Trump’s unpredictable behaviour and provocative statements, including his past remarks about annexing Greenland and making Canada the 51st state. In a symbolic counterpoint, French President Emmanuel Macron made a stopover in Greenland before arriving in Canada, meeting with local leaders and Denmark’s prime minister aboard a Danish naval vessel.
Macron, who has maintained a somewhat cordial relationship with Trump since the latter’s first term, was the first European leader to visit the White House after Trump’s inauguration. Despite this, Macron’s diplomatic efforts have struggled to prevent tariffs on the European Union and have failed to secure American security guarantees for Ukraine, despite attempts to build a coalition for post-ceasefire peacekeeping.
President Trump arrived late on Sunday in Kananaskis, Alberta, where the summit was held. While bilateral meetings among other leaders commenced earlier, the formal agenda began on Monday. Veteran Canadian diplomat Peter Boehm, who has extensive experience with G7 summits, expected the Middle East conflict to dominate discussions.
The summit also included invited guests from emerging economies and key regional players such as India, Ukraine, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, Australia, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates. Avoiding further tariff escalations remained a shared priority.
Starmer’s efforts to engage Trump yielded some progress, including a recently announced trade agreement between the UK and the U.S. that promises to reduce tariffs on British automobiles, steel, and aluminium. Although the deal has yet to be implemented, British officials remain optimistic about its durability despite the unpredictable nature of the Trump administration.
However, Starmer’s diplomatic balancing act drew criticism, particularly from Canadian quarters, given Trump’s controversial remarks about Canada’s sovereignty. When questioned about whether he had confronted Trump on these statements, Starmer responded, “I’m not going to get into the precise conversations I’ve had, but let me be absolutely clear: Canada is an independent, sovereign country and a much-valued member of the Commonwealth.”
The ongoing war in Ukraine was another critical topic on the summit agenda. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended and was expected to meet with Trump. The summit provided an opportunity for renewed dialogue amid international efforts to support Ukraine.
Prior to the summit, Starmer visited Ottawa to confer with Carney on security and trade matters, marking the first visit by a British prime minister to Canada in eight years. German officials sought to temper expectations that the summit would be dominated by divisions between Trump and the other six members, pointing out that the G7 countries themselves have varying priorities and approaches on many issues.