Trump Departs G7 Summit Early Amid Rising Tensions
On Monday, the first day of the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, U.S. President Donald Trump made a surprising early departure, heading back to Washington a day earlier than planned due to escalating conflicts between Israel and Iran.
“I have to be back, very important,” Trump stated. “You probably see what I see, and I have to be back as soon as I can.”
Other G7 leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, had hoped to reach a unified stance on the Middle East situation. However, disagreements emerged as Trump reportedly declined to sign a joint statement calling for de-escalation between Israel and Iran.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa emphasized Israel’s right to self-defense and the necessity to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons during a press conference. Trump’s refusal to endorse the joint statement signaled a significant rift among the leaders.
Trade Talks and Tensions
Trade issues also dominated the discussions. Observers watched closely to see if Trump would soften his positions. After meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump was questioned about the delay in finalizing a trade-security deal with Canada, and he replied that it’s not a matter of it being held up, but rather “different concepts.”
“I have a tariff concept and Mark has a different concept,” Trump explained. “We will see if we can get to the bottom of it today.”
Despite these challenges, Trump announced the finalization of a trade agreement with the UK, expected to reduce tariffs on goods and boost jobs and income in both countries.
Comments on Russia and the G7
Trump also remarked that removing Russia from what was formerly the G8—a move that transformed it into the current G7—was a mistake. He suggested that the conflict in Ukraine might have been avoided if Russia had remained at the table.
Slimmed-Down Summit Agenda
The G7 summit unveiled a streamlined agenda, focusing on the global economy and energy security. Originally slated to begin over the weekend, the summit was shortened to two days and officially started on Monday.
