The 2025 G7 Summit opened Monday in Alberta’s Kananaskis region with high diplomatic tension, a surprise early exit by U.S. President Donald Trump, and controversy surrounding the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As world leaders gathered to address pressing global issues—from artificial intelligence and Ukraine to trade and security—the summit was quickly overshadowed by escalating conflict in the Middle East.
President Trump abruptly departed Canada late Monday to address what the White House called “important matters” tied to the unfolding Iran-Israel crisis. U.S. officials say Trump has convened his National Security Council but confirmed the U.S. will not participate in Israel’s offensive operations. The president’s decision not to sign the G7 statement on the Middle East conflict has drawn criticism from European allies, including French President Emmanuel Macron, who revealed that ceasefire talks are in motion. “If the United States can secure a ceasefire, that’s a good thing,” Macron said.
Just hours before Trump’s exit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Calgary to join the summit—his visit stirring protests in both Calgary and Ottawa. Critics, including human rights advocates and members of the Sikh community, condemned his presence after Canadian intelligence linked agents of Modi’s government to the 2022 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh separatist. Prime Minister Mark Carney has faced backlash for extending the invitation, though Ottawa has maintained the importance of dialogue despite tensions.
Before his departure, Trump held a private bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Carney—their first since a May Oval Office encounter. The two leaders committed to pursuing a trade agreement within 30 days, while also discussing critical minerals, border security, and the fight against smuggling. Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc described the meeting as “substantive,” though he declined to share details, citing an agreement to keep negotiations private.
In a notable diplomatic development, Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer jointly announced the finalization of a U.S.-UK trade deal, covering sectors such as auto tariffs and aerospace. Trump, ever theatrical, waved the signed document at reporters, declaring, “We signed it and it’s done.”
The summit also featured sharp criticism of Trump’s foreign policy stances. Former Canadian ambassador to the U.S., Derek Burney, slammed the president’s suggestion that Russia should be reinstated in the G7, saying, “You’re talking about a war criminal.” Former prime minister Joe Clark echoed concerns, labeling Trump “a showman before he’s a statesman” and warning that his unpredictability undermines serious diplomacy.
Tensions continued to flare behind the scenes. Cameras captured Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni appearing to roll her eyes after a whispered exchange with French President Macron. Meanwhile, Indigenous leader Steven Crowchild, who greeted heads of state in Calgary, said he nearly left before Trump’s arrival, calling the president a source of “pain and suffering.” Crowchild ultimately chose to remain for visibility and diplomatic representation, wearing a traditional headdress and sharing tribal history with the U.S. president.
In Boston, Ontario Premier Doug Ford raised concerns that Trump’s rhetoric—particularly his repeated suggestion that Canada should become the “51st state”—has hurt tourism. Ford told CNN that several U.S. governors expressed frustration, calling the remarks “insulting to one of America’s closest allies.”
As the summit officially opened, Prime Minister Carney urged open and “frank” dialogue, acknowledging the increasingly divided and dangerous global landscape. Still, several topics once central to G7 conversations—such as climate action and international development—were notably absent from the agenda this year. According to G7 researchers, the shift reflects efforts to avoid topics that might provoke Trump, whose attendance was viewed as uncertain up to the last moment.
Trump’s departure leaves lingering questions about U.S. cooperation on global initiatives, the future of Canada-U.S. trade negotiations, and the fragile unity among G7 nations. As tensions mount overseas, the summit continues without one of its most polarizing figures—and with the world watching closely.
Swifteradio.com
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