G7 in Canada: Donald Trump presents his partners and leaves

Kananasikis. US President Donald Trump's first official appearance at the G7 summit in Canada was bizarre. After a 25-minute bilateral meeting with the host, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump held an impromptu press conference. During the press conference, the president, who would like to see Canada become the 51st US state, declared that he was ready to make a "deal" on tariffs. Trump also said that it was a mistake to ban Russia from the former G8 community and that he would not mind if China were also included. He sided with Israel on the Middle East issue and then quickly returned to his accusations about the poor governance of New York and Los Angeles and that his predecessor Joe Biden allowed millions of refugees into the country.

The Canadian Prime Minister stands by like Trump's government spokesman. After a few minutes, he plucks up the courage and ends the spectacle – not before making eye contact with Trump, who agrees with a brief nod.

It is precisely this predictably unpredictable behavior of Trump that the other six heads of state in the club of industrialized nations fear. And things get even worse that day. Late in the afternoon, Trump's spokeswoman announces via Platform X that the president intends to return to Washington that evening after dinner to attend to "important matters." The reason given is the situation in the Middle East. What exactly this is about, and whether Iran may have attacked US bases, remains unclear. The other summit participants express understanding for Trump's departure.

At midday, when the other heads of state and government still assumed that Trump would stay the full two days, expectations of what they could achieve together were sparse. The negotiators simply shrugged their shoulders when asked whether their already significantly reduced expectations for the summit would be fulfilled. This would be that they would receive joint statements on individual topics such as artificial intelligence, raw materials, and forest fires (climate protection), and at least make progress on the major, urgent international issues of the escalation in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and the tariff disputes initiated by Trump. Better still, send a signal of unity.

And just such a signal was finally sent after a dinner attended by Trump: The G7 leaders surprisingly agreed on a joint statement on the war between Israel and Iran. The text, published by host Canada, describes Iran as "the main source of regional instability and terror" and emphasizes Israel's right to self-defense. The G7 leaders further stated that they have always made it unequivocally clear that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon.

The statement does not contain any direct criticism of Israel's actions against Iran. It merely emphasizes the importance of protecting civilians in the conflict and calls for a resolution to the Iran crisis to lead to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East—including a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Even before the summit, Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin spoke by phone. Putin, who supports the mullah regime in Iran, offered to mediate in the armed conflict between Israel and Iran. Trump, in turn, could envision this. For the rest of the G7, such mediation is an unrealistic scenario. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rejects the idea: "I personally do not see that the Russian president could play a mediating role in this conflict. It would be good if Russia ended its war in Ukraine," he said in a statement on the sidelines of the summit.

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According to German government sources, Merz met with Trump for a bilateral exchange even before the official launch of the program. This conversation also focused on the escalation in the Middle East and how it could be ended. Also on the agenda were the situation in Ukraine and how the West can continue to support the country. Trump will no longer meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is scheduled to attend the summit on Tuesday.

At the start of the summit, where participants – including EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Antonio Costa – traditionally gather around a round table, Carney warns that the G7 must also change. "Nostalgia is not a strategy," he says. He cites economic prosperity and resilience as the foundation for their own security.

According to German government sources, the subsequent round will focus on the global economy. It will be emphasized that the G7 must reduce its own trade barriers. The dispute over tariffs looms as a white elephant in the room – without any concrete discussion. The panel largely agrees that China is unduly exploiting free global trade for its own benefit. As a common adversary in trade matters, China creates the otherwise lacking sense of unity within the G7.

Canadian Prime Minister Carney's suggestion that the G7 must reform is taken up. Trump brings up the possibility of expansion. The others appear open to it, emphasizing that these must be democratic economies. The names of India and South Korea are mentioned. Russia and China are no longer discussed behind closed doors. The majority at the table, however, believe that they must first get their own house in order before considering expanding the G7.