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.
The Trump administration is preparing to dramatically widen its immigration crackdown, with plans to ban entry to citizens from 36 more countries unless security and cooperation standards are met within 60 days, according to an internal State Department cable.
On 15 June, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received the credentials of Ahmed Metani, the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Palestine.
Germany intensified its diplomatic efforts on Sunday as Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned of a looming regional catastrophe in the Middle East, calling for immediate de-escalation and humanitarian access amid growing fears of a broader war.
On June 15, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received the credentials of Kang Kymgu, the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea. Following the formal presentation of credentials, President Aliyev held a meeting with Ambassador Kymgu.
President Nikos Christodoulides confirmed on Sunday that Iran has asked Cyprus to relay “some messages” to Israel, as tensions continue to rise sharply in the Middle East.
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck central Peru, killing at least one person and causing damage across the capital, Lima.
A major Israeli airstrike in central Tehran has killed the head of Iran’s IRGC intelligence directorate and his deputy, dealing a serious blow to the country's internal security network.
Thousands gathered in Barcelona and other Spanish cities to protest the impact of mass tourism, accusing it of driving up housing costs and displacing residents.
At least six people were killed and several others injured after a bridge collapsed in Maharashtra’s Pune district.
On Day 3 of the escalating conflict, a new wave of ballistic missiles was launched from Iran towards Israel, striking fear across the region as explosions were reported in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Pakistan will begin its first freight train service to Russia from Lahore on June 22. The route is part of the INSTC and aims to connect Pakistan's rail network with Central Asia, establishing a new trade corridor via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has condemned U.S. immigration raids and National Guard deployment in Los Angeles, calling for reforms instead of enforcement.
Israel’s military says it has identified the body of top Hamas commander Mohammed Sinwar beneath a hospital in southern Gaza.
The Israeli military has issued an evacuation advisory for Iranian civilians living near weapons production sites and associated infrastructure within Iran. The message was shared on the social media platform X in both Arabic and Farsi by an official military spokesperson.
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck central Peru, killing at least one person and causing damage across the capital, Lima.
A major Israeli airstrike in central Tehran has killed the head of Iran’s IRGC intelligence directorate and his deputy, dealing a serious blow to the country's internal security network.
Thousands gathered in Barcelona and other Spanish cities to protest the impact of mass tourism, accusing it of driving up housing costs and displacing residents.
At least six people were killed and several others injured after a bridge collapsed in Maharashtra’s Pune district.
On Day 3 of the escalating conflict, a new wave of ballistic missiles was launched from Iran towards Israel, striking fear across the region as explosions were reported in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck central Peru, killing at least one person and causing damage across the capital, Lima.
A major Israeli airstrike in central Tehran has killed the head of Iran’s IRGC intelligence directorate and his deputy, dealing a serious blow to the country's internal security network.
Thousands gathered in Barcelona and other Spanish cities to protest the impact of mass tourism, accusing it of driving up housing costs and displacing residents.
At least six people were killed and several others injured after a bridge collapsed in Maharashtra’s Pune district.
On Day 3 of the escalating conflict, a new wave of ballistic missiles was launched from Iran towards Israel, striking fear across the region as explosions were reported in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
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