RECAP | Carney says G7 held ‘very frank exchanges’ as summit ends, following early exits by Trump, Zelenskyy

Carney wraps up summit, avoids conflicts with Trump

Prime Minister Carney has successfully concluded the G7 summit with a closing press conference, demonstrating his efforts to steer clear of the tensions that arose between his predecessor and President Trump at the previous summit.

During the 2018 summit in Charlevoix, Que., Justin Trudeau made a remark that was perceived as critical of Trump, leading to a series of contentious tweets from the U.S. President and disrupting the final discussions and agreements at the meeting. Carney was determined to avoid a similar situation and maintain a positive atmosphere throughout the summit.

One key moment that highlighted Carney’s strategy to avoid conflict with Trump was the handling of a potential joint G7 statement on Ukraine. Initially, there were plans for such a statement, but it was ultimately dropped due to American concerns about the language regarding Russia potentially hindering their negotiations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

When questioned about this decision, Carney defended Trump’s position and emphasized their collaboration in addressing Russian aggression. He asserted that every word in the statement was discussed with Trump personally, indicating a united front against Russia’s actions. Additionally, Carney released a separate chair’s statement calling for increased pressure on Russia, including the use of financial sanctions.

While acknowledging that other G7 countries may have desired stronger language in the statement, Carney maintained a diplomatic stance and avoided any criticism towards Trump or his approach. The summit concluded with a sense of unity and cooperation among the leaders, with Carney successfully navigating potential conflicts and ensuring a productive outcome for the G7 discussions.