G7 Leaders Gather In Canada Hoping To Avoid Clash With Trump

The G7 summit has officially opened in Canada, where world leaders are scrambling to navigate growing global instability while hoping to avoid any direct confrontations with U.S. President Donald Trump. The summit comes as the conflicts in Israel-Iran, Ukraine, and Gaza intensify, and as Trump's America-First economic agenda continues to send shockwaves through international trade alliances.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, hosting the summit, outlined his government’s talking points “peace and security,” “critical mineral supply chains,” and “job creation.” But looming over the carefully staged agenda is Trump’s aggressive trade policy, his tough stance on national security, and the widening global conflicts that many Western leaders seem powerless to contain.

The Middle East is once again front and center, as Israel and Iran continue to exchange heavy missile fire. Israeli strikes have shattered Iranian nuclear and military sites, while Iranian ballistic missiles have slammed into Israeli cities, killing dozens of civilians on both sides. The G7 leaders are expected to release a joint statement calling for de-escalation, though few expect Tehran to respond to another toothless Western appeal for calm.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized his key objectives for the summit: preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, defending Israel’s right to self-defense, and trying to preserve space for diplomacy. Yet the Iranian regime, still claiming its nuclear program is “peaceful,” has continued to enrich uranium and expand its ballistic missile arsenal. It’s the same empty rhetoric that the Biden administration and the Obama-era nuclear deal enabled for years policies Trump wisely dismantled.

The last time Canada hosted the G7 in 2018, Trump memorably exited early, denouncing then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “very dishonest and weak.” Trump’s refusal to rubber-stamp the summit’s final communiqué led to a diplomatic standoff, capturing headlines with a now-famous image of Trump sitting defiantly with his arms crossed while Angela Merkel glared at him across the table.

This year, Canada is trying to avoid another embarrassment by abandoning the idea of a comprehensive joint communiqué altogether. Instead, chair summaries will be issued to sidestep potential conflicts with the United States.

The stakes are even higher now as Trump's tough tariff policies have deeply rattled America’s global trade partners:

• The U.S. maintains significant tariffs on autos and steel from many G7 nations, with Trump's administration vowing to continue demanding fair, reciprocal trade agreements.

• The United Kingdom recently struck a limited framework with Washington, adding quotas but leaving Trump’s 10% baseline tariffs in place.

• Trump's trade crackdown has already forced billions in new investments to return to American soil, strengthening domestic industries weakened by years of globalist policies.

Beyond trade and the Middle East, discussions will also address the crisis at the U.S. southern border, global drug trafficking, artificial intelligence, energy security, and wildfire management. Yet even on these issues, Trump’s America-First platform continues to reshape the conversation, forcing global leaders to reckon with his unapologetic pursuit of U.S. sovereignty and strength.

Before departing for Canada, Trump made it clear he remains focused on tough trade negotiations: “We have our trade deals. All we have to do is send a letter, ‘This is what you’re going to have to pay.’ But I think we'll have a few new trade deals,” he said confidently.

President Trump is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Carney, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the summit.

As the world faces simultaneous security and economic crises, one thing remains clear: while the other G7 leaders maneuver to avoid offending Washington, Trump’s leadership continues to dominate the global stage, reminding America’s allies that the days of one-sided deals and weak diplomacy are over.

Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for more critical updates.