Addis Ababa, — Leaders of some of the world’s biggest economic powers have gathered in the Canadian Rockies for a Group of Seven summit, overshadowed by an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran as well as U.S. President Donald Trump’s unresolved trade war.
Israel’s strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation, which appeared to catch many world leaders unaware, is the latest sign of a more volatile world, it was learned.
Accordingly, the eruption of conflict between Israel and Iran is highly anticipated to dominate proceedings during the three-day gathering, with other pressing issues relegated further down the agenda.
U.S. President Donald Trump has joined the leaders of G7 members Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the U.K. and the EU–as well as several other invitees–at the Alberta Mountain resort of Kananaskis.
In contrast to past summits, no-one is expecting the group to put on a united front. Officials from the host nation have said there will be no joint communiqué after the talks wrap up, in a sign of the gulf between Trump and Washington’s long-term allies.
After all, the summit comes on the back of a turbulent period which has seen Trump slapping harsh trade tariffs on major trading partners, musing about the annexation of Canada and Greenland, and engaging with Russia over the war in Ukraine.
Earlier this week, sources told Reuters that European members of the G7 were aiming to use the forum to push through plans to lower the price cap on Russian oil, even if Trump disagrees.
But the sudden escalation in the Middle East over the last few days is set to overshadow the preplanned agenda, which G7 president Canada had hoped would focus on peace and defense goals in areas such as Ukraine, energy security and the establishment of new investment partnerships.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Trump in recent days vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a US official told The Associated Press, in an indication of how far Israel was prepared to go.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had discussed efforts to de-escalate the crisis with Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as other world leaders and said he expected “intense discussions” would continue at the summit.
Trump is the summit wild card. Looming over the meeting are his inflammatory threats to make Canada the 51st state and take over Greenland.
Leaders who are not part of the G7 but have been invited to the summit by Carney include the heads of state of India, Ukraine, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, Australia, Mexico and the UAE. Avoiding tariffs will continue to be top of mind.