At the G7 Summit: Trump Faces Off with Allies Amid Global Chaos
Le Monde Highlights Rising Tensions, Lack of Consensus, and Trump's Disruptive Role at Canada’s High-Stakes Gathering.
Watan-Under the headline “At the G7 Summit… Donald Trump Faces Off with Others Amid Global Chaos,” French newspaper Le Monde reflected on the 50th annual G7 summit, which began last Sunday in Kananaskis, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada.
The successor to Justin Trudeau, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, found himself in an unprecedented situation, hosting a U.S. president who continues to treat Canada as “the 51st state.” Carney had to assert publicly that “Canada is not for sale.”
Le Monde pointed out that the summit’s main objective was to avoid a repeat of the 2018 G7 summit, also hosted by Canada, during which then-President Donald Trump stormed out, refused to sign the final communiqué, threatened tariffs, and called then-PM Trudeau “weak and very dishonest.”
However, the atmosphere in this year’s summit is even more toxic, according to Le Monde, due to two ongoing wars near G7 countries: Russia’s war in Ukraine and the escalating confrontation between Israel and Iran, which began Friday.
The American tariffs are no longer just a threat—they are a present reality and a subject of tense negotiation. Organizers found a clever workaround to avoid another clash over a final declaration: there will be no final communiqué at all.
Rising Discontent with Trump’s Return
Le Monde noted that Trump’s second term appears far more aggressive than his first, with visible fractures now dividing what was once called “the Western family.” European leaders are now focused less on bridging gaps and more on damage control, defining a “successful summit” as one free of drama and confrontation.
Given the tense backdrop, the newspaper emphasized the need for Europe to show a united front. While tariffs will dominate much of the discussion, Le Monde advised leaving those to bilateral negotiations between the U.S. and EU. Some progress may be achievable in areas chosen by Canada’s G7 presidency—such as energy security, critical minerals, and emerging technologies.
Trump’s Lofty Claims, Few Results
In other matters, such as Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran, Le Monde observed that Trump continues to promise breakthroughs—peace in Ukraine and Gaza, convincing Iran to abandon its nuclear program—without achieving results. European and Japanese leaders must hold firm to their positions, especially on Ukraine, and hope to reinforce them during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s summit appearance.
Trump’s Push for Russia and Iran Mediation
Le Monde reminded readers that Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of readmitting Russia to the G7, which remains a non-starter. Similarly, his Sunday proposal for Russian mediation in the Israel-Iran war was instantly dismissed.
As for this escalating new war, which could overtake the summit agenda due to its geopolitical and energy market implications, the paper concluded that simply extracting a clear strategy from Trump—if he has one—would be an achievement in itself.
