Leaders of the Group of Seven nations opened their annual summit on Monday in the Canadian Rockies, meeting under the shadow of mounting global instability driven by the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Hosted by Canada, the summit is intended to reinforce unity among major democracies, though political tensions remain high—especially with U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term reshaping long-standing alliances.
The agenda includes global economic recovery, trade policy, relations with China, and sharply rising oil prices following Israel’s recent strikes on Iran. In an effort to avoid discord similar to the 2018 summit, Canada has foregone the traditional joint communiqué, opting instead for a chair’s summary and six targeted declarations on issues such as artificial intelligence, migration, and climate-related disasters.
European leaders were particularly unsettled by President Trump’s recent outreach to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he suggested could mediate in the Iran-Israel conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron firmly dismissed the idea, pointing to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The summit will also address the G7’s oil price cap policy and broader regional diplomacy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte are set to join the talks on Tuesday, as European officials push for stronger U.S. support against Russia.