World leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) nations are gathering in Canada’s Kananaskis resort, located near Calgary, for a summit overshadowed by divisions with the United States. Host Canada aims to navigate tensions with President Donald Trump, who famously stormed out of the 2018 G7 meeting and attacked then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This year, trade disputes and global conflicts threaten to dominate discussions, with Trump’s unpredictable diplomacy looming large.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has outlined priorities such as peacebuilding, critical mineral supply chains, and job creation. However, pressing issues like U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum—which Canada vows to counter if not lifted—alongside escalating Middle East and Ukraine crises, could hijack the agenda. The timing is particularly delicate after Israel’s recent strikes on Iran, undermining Trump’s attempts to prevent such an escalation.
The specter of past G7 clashes hangs over the summit. In 2018, Trump withdrew support from the joint communiqué and labeled Trudeau “weak and dishonest.” Analysts suggest that avoiding a similar meltdown this year would itself count as progress. Roland Paris, a former Trudeau adviser, noted wryly, “Success means Trump doesn’t erupt and derail everything.”
Trump’s arrival coincides with renewed threats of U.S. trade action and even his past musings about annexing Canada. Josh Lipsky of the Atlantic Council warned the best-case scenario is “no major blow-ups.” With Carney’s office silent on how Israel-Iran tensions will impact talks, the summit’s outcome remains uncertain—balancing diplomacy against the risk of another Trump-driven implosion.