G7 leaders will meet in Canada from Sunday (15) to Monday (16), with international security as the central theme and the possibility of a private meeting between the Presidents of the United States and Ukraine, according to Portugal’s Lusa news agency on Friday, June 13.
This summit marks Donald Trump’s debut at a G7 meeting during his second presidential term, with Canada—this year’s rotating presidency holder—hosting the event. Trump returns to the international stage after previously suggesting Canada should be integrated into the United States.
The host will be Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, former Governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. He took office in March, replacing Justin Trudeau. Carney aims to avoid a repeat of the 2018 Charlevoix G7 summit—also hosted by Canada—when Trump left early, insulted Trudeau, and withdrew the U.S. signature from the final communiqué. “Canada is ready to lead,” said Carney when presenting the summit of the group, which includes Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, in addition to the host country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend as a guest and expressed on Thursday (12) his intention to meet with Trump on the sidelines of the summit. Zelensky aims to persuade the U.S. President to adopt new sanctions against Russia, despite Trump’s previously hesitant stance on the issue.
According to Spain’s EFE news agency, Canada hopes to use the summit to restore global political and financial stability amid rising uncertainty. To that end, the country plans to strengthen strategic alliances and focus the agenda on three key pillars: economic development, peace and security, and accelerating the digital transition.
To avoid diplomatic friction, Carney’s team has already announced that there will be no traditional joint communiqué but rather a presidential statement. Canada plans to emphasize themes such as protecting communities and the world—by combating foreign interference and transnational crime—enhancing energy security, and advancing digital transformation. The third pillar will focus on economic futures, mobilizing major private investment to finance infrastructure, create well-paying jobs, and open dynamic markets.
The agenda also includes discussions on a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and other global conflicts, as well as participation by non-G7 countries to reinforce multilateral cooperation.
Carney sees this Kananaskis summit—the same location that hosted a G8 meeting in 2002 when Russia was still a participant—as a chance to bolster Canada’s international role and ease recent diplomatic tensions.
“Canada has what the world needs and values others aspire to,” the Prime Minister said, highlighting the importance of the initiative.
Carney’s guests include Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, with whom Canada seeks to repair trade-war-damaged ties; India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose presence is notable following accusations of involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada; and the heads of government from Australia (Anthony Albanese), Brazil (Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva), South Korea (Lee Jae-myung), and South Africa (Cyril Ramaphosa).
The G7 gathers annually to address global economic and geopolitical issues, with this year’s edition especially marked by diplomatic tensions, economic challenges, and the lingering effects of regional conflicts.
Source: Diário Económico
