In the backdrop of a brewing trade conflict with longstanding allies and controversial relations with Canada, U.S. President Donald Trump is set to land on Sunday for a Group of Seven (G7) summit in a country he has provocatively suggested incorporating as the 51st U.S. state. This suggestion has stirred significant unrest among Canadians. Prime Minister Mark Carney, who capitalized on a platform of directly opposing Trump’s increasing aggressiveness, will be hosting the summit.
Carney mentioned earlier this week that Washington’s role as a global leader is diminishing, as it imposes tariffs and reduces financial support for joint security efforts. In a departure from tradition, Carney has chosen not to issue the customary joint statement at the conclusion of the summit, aligning his approach with French President Emmanuel Macron, who omitted the communiqué in the 2019 summit held in France. These documents usually lay out the collective resolutions of attending leaders and present a roadmap to address agreed-upon issues.
In past summits, Trump has disrupted proceedings. In 2017, he raised objections over the climate change section of the final statement, and the following year he retracted his support for the communiqué after criticizing then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for perceived slights. As the G7 leaders prepare for the summit in the Canadian Rockies’ scenic resort town of Kananaskis, Alberta, the atmosphere remains tense.
The G7 is composed of Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Germany, and Britain, with the European Union as an additional participant. This year, invited guests include figures like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is poised to encounter Trump once more following a previously tense meeting. Such encounters, both group and bilateral, often prove delicate, requiring foreign leaders to adeptly manage the balance between conciliation and resistance against the U.S. President.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will also be present, expecting her first face-to-face meeting with Trump. Meanwhile, Macron is intriguing observers with a stopover in Greenland, a territory of interest to Trump for potential acquisition. Other noteworthy attendees include German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, with Carney hosting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi despite allegations against his government circulating within Canada.
A question lingers: Will Trump similarly upend this G7 meeting? Reflecting on past events, the 2018 summit dissolved into disarray as Trump labeled Trudeau “dishonest” and “weak,” subsequently withdrawing from the group statement. Remarks of disbelief were echoed by Peter Boehm, Canada’s deputy minister for the Quebec summit, due to the unexpected turn of events after carefully orchestrating what they believed was a successful summit.
Further complicating matters, during the Quebec summit, Trump advocated for Russia’s readmission to the group. This suggestion clashed with geopolitical tensions, particularly with British Prime Minister Theresa May present while discussion surrounding Russian involvement in a toxic attack on British soil was fresh.
Trade tensions remain a looming concern. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra stated that Carney has been engaged in direct discussions with Trump about a trade deal leading up to the summit, while Canadian cabinet ministers have been active in Washington for ongoing negotiations. Trump’s strategy of imposing import taxes has strained U.S. trade relations, igniting global economic instability echoed by the World Bank’s recent bleak forecast.
As the G7 serves as a precursor to the imminent NATO summit, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is expected to attend. Many U.S. allies back Trump’s call for increased defense spending, though Carney emphasized Canada’s commitment to NATO’s existing 2% guideline, yet hesitated at the escalation to 5% as suggested by Trump.
Security concerns have dictated a remote summit location in Kananaskis to prevent potential protests from reaching the summit vicinity, with designated protest zones established in Calgary and Banff, Alberta, providing live feeds to summit leaders and delegations. This locale last served as the backdrop for a G8 summit in 2002.