G7 Summit Begins Under Cloud of Global Tensions, Trump’s Unpredictability Looms Large

World leaders gathered in the Canadian Rockies on Sunday for a high-stakes G7 summit, overshadowed by the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran and ongoing trade tensions driven by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The volatile geopolitical climate deepened after Israeli airstrikes and Iran’s retaliatory attacks caught many off guard. A U.S. official told the Associated Press that Trump recently vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—highlighting the extreme measures Israel was contemplating.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had discussed de-escalation efforts with Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and other global leaders. He warned of “intense discussions” ahead at the summit.

Trump Dominates Conversations, Summit Format Shifts

As host, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has scrapped the usual joint communique, anticipating disunity. The summit is expected to feature a string of bilateral meetings, especially as several leaders try to persuade Trump to ease off on tariff threats.

Trump, described by critics as the summit’s “wild card,” has drawn fresh backlash with his provocative suggestions—including turning Canada into the 51st U.S. state and acquiring Greenland. French President Emmanuel Macron, who made a symbolic stop in Greenland en route to Canada, rebuked the idea. “Greenland is not to be sold, not to be taken,” Macron stated firmly.

Trump is expected to arrive late Sunday in Kananaskis, Alberta, and meet with Carney Monday morning ahead of formal summit sessions.

Bilateral Meetings with Trump Seen as Risky

Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien cautioned current leaders to remain calm if Trump seeks to provoke. “He tends to be a bully,” Chrétien said. “If Trump does something crazy, let him. Keep talking normally.”

The leaders of India, Brazil, Ukraine, South Africa, South Korea, Australia, Mexico, and the UAE—who have been invited as guests—are also expected to press Trump on avoiding tariffs.

Starmer Walks a Tightrope

Starmer’s efforts to woo Trump have drawn criticism at home and abroad, especially in Canada, for not directly addressing Trump’s Canada-as-a-U.S.-state remarks. “Canada is an independent, sovereign country and a much-valued member of the Commonwealth,” Starmer said when asked if he confronted Trump.

The UK and U.S. recently announced a trade deal cutting American tariffs on British goods, though it has yet to take effect.

Ukraine War on the Agenda

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet with Trump, marking their first encounter since a tense Oval Office meeting earlier this year. Meanwhile, Starmer met Carney in Ottawa before the summit to discuss trade and security—the first visit by a British PM to Canada in eight years.

Despite tensions, German officials rejected the idea of a “six-against-one” summit dynamic, pointing to internal divisions within the G7. Still, as Chrétien put it: “The only problem you cannot forecast is what the president of the United States will do, depending on the mood, the need to be in the news.”