Kananaskis: US President Donald Trump departed the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada a day earlier than scheduled, prompted by escalating tensions in the Middle East, the White House announced on Monday. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump's early exit was necessary to address the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, with Israel urging the US to consider military intervention.
According to France24.com, Trump had offered a potential ceasefire between Israel and Iran, as revealed by French President Emmanuel Macron. Despite the offer, a US official confirmed that Trump declined to endorse a draft statement advocating for the de-escalation of the conflict. Macron, however, viewed Trump's departure as a favorable development towards achieving a ceasefire. "There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange," Macron told reporters, emphasizing the importance of pursuing broader discussions following a ceasefire.
The summit, which included leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the US, alongside the European Union, was held in Kananaskis in the Canadian Rockies. During the summit, Trump expressed regret over the exclusion of Russia from the former Group of Eight in 2014, following its annexation of Crimea. He suggested that Russia's expulsion might have contributed to its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Trump's remarks raised concerns about the potential impact on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's upcoming meeting with G7 leaders. Josh Lipsky, a former senior IMF official, noted the challenges faced by European nations in persuading Trump to support stricter sanctions on Moscow. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian embassy in Canada confirmed Zelensky's continued plans to attend the summit.
Efforts to adopt a comprehensive communique were abandoned by Canada to avoid a repeat of the 2018 Quebec summit, where Trump withdrew US approval of the final communique post-departure. Drafts on various topics, including migration and artificial intelligence, have not received US approval, as reported by sources briefed on the documents. The absence of Trump raises uncertainty about the issuance of any official declarations, according to a European diplomat.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney extended invitations to non-G7 members, including Mexico, India, Australia, South Africa, South Korea, Brazil, and Ukraine. In a bilateral development, Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer finalized a trade agreement that lowers US tariffs for Britain, marking Britain's first such deal with the US. Carney expressed intentions to conclude a new economic and security partnership with the US within 30 days. Trump also hinted at a possible economic deal with Canada but underscored the importance of tariffs, a stance opposed by Canada's ambassador to Washington, Kirsten Hillman.