G7 forges ahead after Trump bows out early to deal with Middle East
The remaining six leaders at the G7 summit are moving forward after U.S. President Donald Trump’s unexpected early departure from the meeting. Trump left Kananaskis, Alta. on Sunday night, cutting his visit short to deal with the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Despite leaving before the summit’s conclusion, Trump expressed his satisfaction with the progress made during his time at the summit.
The G7 summit, chaired by Prime Minister Mark Carney, has shifted its focus to address the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. Following Trump’s departure, the remaining leaders released a joint statement calling for a de-escalation of hostilities in the region. The statement emphasized Israel’s right to defend itself while acknowledging Iran as a significant source of instability and terrorism in the Middle East.
Leaders such as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who were scheduled to join the summit on Tuesday, will now have to engage with the other G7 leaders without Trump’s presence. Sheinbaum had hoped to discuss trade issues with Trump, while Zelenskyy had been advocating for U.S. involvement in peace negotiations with Russia.
Although Trump’s absence may be disappointing for some leaders, Prime Minister Carney is expected to announce increased support for Ukraine, including military aid and enhanced defence partnerships. The government has allocated $2 billion for military assistance to Ukraine, with details of the funding distribution set to be revealed during the summit.
In addition to ongoing discussions on global security and economic issues, Carney is also scheduled to meet with Indian Prime Minister Modi to explore opportunities for strengthening bilateral relations. This meeting comes amidst recent allegations of Indian agents being involved in violent activities on Canadian soil, adding a layer of complexity to the diplomatic dialogue.
Aside from Modi, other leaders attending the summit include Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and World Bank President Ajay Banga. The discussions at the G7 summit are expected to shape global policies and initiatives in the coming months, addressing critical issues such as regional conflicts, economic cooperation, and international security.
