US President Donald Trump, whose second term has been devoted to going it alone, makes his return to the G7 in crisis mode after Israel attacked Iran.
The G7 summit starting tomorrow in Kananaskis, Canada, marks the first major global gathering of Trump’s second term, in which he has been even more brash in shattering diplomatic norms.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had set the agenda on largely uncontroversial themes such as building global supply chains for critical minerals.
Photo: AP
That agenda could now be upended, as Israel launched a massive military campaign against Iran yesterday, saying it was taking pre-emptive action against its adversary’s contested nuclear program.
The Trump administration has closely aligned the US with Israel, taking aim even at close allies who criticize its offensive in Gaza. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly defied Trump, who hours earlier had called for a diplomatic solution, and whose Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff had been due to hold new talks with Iran tomorrow.
A NEW LEADER
The last time Trump attended a G7 summit in Canada in 2018, he stormed out early and took to social media to disassociate the US from the G7 statement and brand then-Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau as “dishonest and weak.”
The bad blood never ended, and Trump upon returning to office mockingly said Canada should be the 51st US state.
Trudeau handed over the premiership in March to Carney, who told Trump firmly that Canada was “never for sale.”
Carney has patched up with Trump through his analytical skills and competence, G7 Research Group founder John Kirton said.
Trump also has an incentive to keep the peace in Kananaskis — the US is to lead the G7 in 2027.
“He doesn’t want to kill the G7 golden goose before he can produce the ‘biggest, best summit ever’ for the whole world stage two years from now,” Kirton said.
‘AMERICA FIRST’
Trump is expected to push back in Kananaskis if allies seek to moderate him, Atlantic Council senior fellow Rachel Rizzo said.
“He does not view these organizations as ways to deepen and expand American power and influence. He sees these fora as constraining America,” she said.
Europeans would observe Trump at the G7 to see how he treats their alliance, Center for Strategic and International Studies Europe, Russia and Eurasia program director Max Bergmann said.
“Our allies and partners in Europe are really questioning the US commitment and they are asking themselves, is this a relationship that is going to be maintained?” he said.
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