KANANASKIS, Alberta. World leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) convened Sunday in the Canadian Rockies for a high-stakes summit overshadowed by the escalating Israel-Iran conflict and renewed concerns over U.S. trade policy.
The leaders arrived as tensions flared in the Middle East following Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s swift retaliation, a development that reportedly surprised several attendees. A U.S. official told The Associated Press that President Donald Trump recently vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, highlighting how far the crisis had escalated.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he spoke with both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the summit in an attempt to defuse tensions. “Intense discussions” are expected to continue during the summit, he added.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, this year’s host, has chosen not to issue a joint communique, a departure from tradition that reflects the divisive issues at hand. With many leaders focused on deterring Trump from imposing new tariffs, the summit risks becoming a series of one-on-one meetings rather than a united front.
Trump, who arrived wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, was met by four Mounties. His unpredictable behavior looms over the summit, as do his recent comments suggesting Canada could become the 51st U.S. state and his renewed interest in acquiring Greenland. French President Emmanuel Macron visited Greenland on Sunday and responded sharply, declaring the territory is “not to be sold” or taken, a message welcomed by local leaders and the European Union alike.
Trump is scheduled to meet with Carney on Monday morning before official summit talks begin.
Among the guests are leaders from India, Ukraine, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, Australia, Mexico, and the UAE. While the conflict in Ukraine remains a key topic, trade policy — particularly tariffs, is expected to dominate many bilateral talks. Trump, before departing the White House, claimed new trade deals were imminent, saying, “All we have to do is send a letter: ‘This is what you’re going to have to pay.’”
British officials, meanwhile, downplayed concerns over whether a recently announced trade agreement with the U.S. — covering automobiles, steel, and aluminum — might be reversed by the Trump administration.
Back home, Starmer faces criticism for failing to publicly reject Trump’s remarks about making Canada a U.S. state. “Canada is an independent, sovereign country and a much-valued member of the Commonwealth,” Starmer said when asked about the issue by the Associated Press.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine is expected to attend and meet with Trump in what will be their first face-to-face encounter since a tense Oval Office meeting earlier this year.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien advised current leaders to stay calm amid potential disruptions. “He tends to be a bully,” Chrétien said, referring to Trump. “Let him do it and keep talking normally.”
German officials have dismissed suggestions that the summit is turning into a “six against one” scenario, emphasizing internal differences among G7 members on several issues. Still, the unpredictable nature of the American president remains a wildcard, with even summit veterans unsure of what to expect.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
