World leaders gather in the Canadian Rockies for a tense G7 summit overshadowed by deepening rifts with U.S. President Donald Trump over global conflicts, trade tariffs, and America's shifting role in multilateral diplomacy.
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations convene in the Canadian Rockies on Sunday as geopolitical rifts with the United States dominate the agenda. With U.S. President Donald Trump attending his first international summit since returning to office, host country Canada is working behind the scenes to prevent diplomatic blow-ups.
Set against the serene backdrop of Kananaskis, roughly 90 kilometres west of Calgary, the summit is being overshadowed by contentious issues such as trade tariffs, Middle East violence, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has listed peace, security, critical mineral supply chains, and job creation as his key priorities—but behind closed doors, U.S. actions are expected to dominate discussions.
Tensions surged further after Israel, a key U.S. ally, launched widespread airstrikes across Iran on Thursday, complicating Trump’s diplomatic efforts to prevent regional escalation.
This year’s gathering follows the turbulent 2018 G7 summit, also hosted by Canada, when Trump stormed out early and condemned then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "dishonest and weak." Since then, expectations have lowered.
“This will be a successful meeting if Donald Trump doesn’t have an eruption that disrupts the entire gathering. Anything above and beyond that is gravy,” said Roland Paris, a University of Ottawa professor and former adviser to Trudeau.
President Trump’s arrival comes as Canada threatens retaliatory measures unless the United States lifts tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium. Trump has previously joked about annexing Canada, remarks that have not gone unnoticed by Canadian officials.
In a bid to limit fallout, Canada has abandoned the traditional joint communique. Instead, the summit will conclude with chair summaries, according to diplomats close to the planning process. A senior Canadian official said the focus would be on achievable collective actions, avoiding language that could provoke U.S. disengagement.
Senator Peter Boehm, who coordinated Trudeau’s G7 efforts in 2018, said this year’s summit has been extended to allow more bilateral meetings with President Trump. World leaders from Mexico, Ukraine, India, Australia, South Africa, South Korea, and Brazil will also attend portions of the event, hoping to raise national concerns with the U.S. president.
“Many will want to talk to President Trump about their own particular interests and concerns,” Boehm noted.
Ukraine’s Cautious Diplomacy
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to attend, but with limited expectations. His last meeting with Trump in Washington earlier this year ended in acrimony. A Ukrainian official told AnewZ that Kyiv no longer hopes for a strong G7 statement but would count a cordial encounter as a diplomatic win.
Trump has promised to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours, but his proposals remain vague, and allied leaders are sceptical. A European diplomat said both the G7 and the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague are critical moments to press Trump on maintaining pressure on Russia through sanctions.
Beyond the immediate flashpoints, analysts say the summit will provide key indicators of Trump’s commitment to multilateral diplomacy.
“The big overarching question here is: is the United States still committed to formats like the G7?” said Max Bergmann of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
Topics for official working sessions include trade, artificial intelligence, global economic stability, migration, energy security, drug smuggling, and climate-related disasters like wildfires. A senior U.S. official said Trump is particularly focused on rebalancing trade relationships.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who has maintained a frank but stable rapport with Trump, said on Friday that a planned peace conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, co-hosted with Saudi Arabia, has been postponed.
As world leaders prepare for three days of careful diplomacy, all eyes are on whether Trump's participation will end in cooperation or confrontation.
Four people have sustained varying degrees of injuries after two drones fell near Dubai's International Airport on Wednesday, as Iran and Israe...
At least six people have died after a bus caught fire in Kerzers, Switzerland, in what police say may have been a deliberate act. Witnesses reporte...
A 35-year-old woman was charged with attempted murder on Tuesday (10 March) after allegedly firing a semi-automati...
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their nati...
A towering lava fountain from Kilauea shot about 400 metres into the air late on Tuesday (11 March) on Hawaii Island, prompting temporary closures ...
At least six people have died after a bus caught fire in Kerzers, Switzerland, in what police say may have been a deliberate act. Witnesses reported a man inside the vehicle set himself alight. Three others were injured and taken to hospital, while authorities continue their investigation.
A 35-year-old woman was charged with attempted murder on Tuesday (10 March) after allegedly firing a semi-automatic rifle at the Los Angeles home of pop star Rihanna on Sunday, prosecutors said.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
A towering lava fountain from Kilauea shot about 400 metres into the air late on Tuesday (11 March) on Hawaii Island, prompting temporary closures at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and part of a key highway as volcanic ash and debris fell over nearby areas.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Kazakhstan has evacuated more than 7,300 citizens from the Middle East since regional tensions escalated, using both air and land routes to bring nationals home while closely monitoring political developments and potential economic effects linked to rising oil prices.
Almost 2,000 people have been evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan since conflict erupted in the Middle East.
Norwegian police are searching for a suspect after an explosion at the U.S. embassy in Oslo on 8 March caused minor damage but no injuries, in what authorities say may have been a deliberate attack linked to the Middle East crisis.
The first batch of Peter Mandelson’s papers on his 2024 ambassadorial appointment is set to be published on Wednesday, following a parliamentary order. The release comes amid police investigations over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.
At least six people have died after a bus caught fire in Kerzers, Switzerland, in what police say may have been a deliberate act. Witnesses reported a man inside the vehicle set himself alight. Three others were injured and taken to hospital, while authorities continue their investigation.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 11th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Four people have sustained varying degrees of injuries after two drones fell near Dubai's International Airport on Wednesday, as Iran and Israel continue to exchange missile and drone strikes across the Middle East - all the latest updates throughout the day on AnewZ.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has addressed the U.N. Security Council, saying the world must consider how effective its engagement with the Taliban-run country is as millions face hunger.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment