G7 leaders hold summit in Canada amid fear over Trump uncertainty

World leaders under the Group of Seven (G7) banner have convened in the Canadian Rockies, with escalating tensions between Israel and Iran topping the summit’s agenda.

According to Reuters, the high-stakes meeting, held from Sunday June 15 to Tuesday  June 17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, comes just hours after deadly overnight missile exchanges between Iran and Israel.

The violence has raised fears of broader regional destabilization, putting diplomatic pressure on the G7 bloc.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and safeguarding Israel’s right to self-defense are key summit objectives.

“This issue will be very high on the agenda,” Merz told reporters.

“We must avoid escalation and create space for diplomacy.”

Trump Factor Looms Large

Adding to the summit’s complexity is the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump, attending his first major multilateral meeting since his return to office.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the summit host, is walking a tightrope — pushing for unity on issues like security, mineral supply chains, and job creation — while striving to avoid a repeat of 2018’s infamous fallout, when Trump denounced then-PM Justin Trudeau and withdrew from the summit communique.

“This will be a success if Trump doesn’t blow up the meeting,” said Prof. Roland Paris, ex-foreign policy adviser to Trudeau.

Diplomacy Over Unity Statement

In a move to contain potential discord, Canada has scrapped plans for a joint communique.

Instead, chair summaries will replace the traditional final statement to maintain cohesion among member states.

A senior Canadian official said the focus would be on “actionable steps” from all members: Canada, the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Japan, and Italy.

 Global Concerns on the Table

Alongside the Middle East conflict, the summit will  also touch on:

• U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs
• Russia’s war in Ukraine
• Artificial intelligence regulation
• Critical minerals trade
• Climate-related wildfires
• Migration and drug smuggling.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Japan’s PM Shigeru Ishiba, and leaders from Brazil, South Africa, India, and South Korea are expected to engage in side talks with Trump.

 U.S. Global Role

Observers see the summit as a litmus test for Trump’s willingness to engage multilaterally.

“Is the U.S. still committed to the G7 format? That’s the big question,” said Max Bergmann of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

With no joint declaration expected, leaders are hoping for calm discussions, minimal disruptions, and a unified front on at least one urgent matter: avoiding a regional war in the Middle East.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook