Dim Amor
Against the backdrop of escalating tensions between Israel and Iran and the ongoing war in Ukraine, G7 heads of state convened today for an extraordinary summit in the town of Kananaskis in Canada's Alberta province. The summit, taking place amid sharp disagreements between President Trump and his European allies, focused on the Iranian issue and the international response to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived at the summit directly from a high-profile diplomatic visit to Greenland, where he met with the Prime Minister of Denmark and the Prime Minister of Greenland. The visit, perceived as a calculated diplomatic move, was intended to express the highest-level support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Arctic island. Moreover, the visit is seen as a clear and immediate message to President Trump, who has previously expressed considerable interest in purchasing Greenland and has not even ruled out the use of military force to achieve this goal, despite the island being under Danish sovereignty—a US ally.
Tensions between Trump and the European Union manifest across a range of key issues. Europeans are pushing for a tougher stance toward Russia in light of its refusal to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, and are interested in advancing another round of sanctions that would include a further reduction in the Russian oil price cap. This move is designed to prevent Russia from benefiting from rising global oil prices, which have surged following the fighting between Israel and Iran and are now bringing enormous revenues into the Russian state coffers.
President Trump illustrated the depth of disagreement with Europe regarding relations with Russia when he criticized the G8's decision to expel Russia from the organization following the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in March 2014. During the discussions, Trump said: "That was a big mistake. You wouldn't have had this war. Putin talks to me, he doesn't talk to anyone else because he got insulted when he was thrown out of the G8". Trump's words, perceived as a defense of the Russian president, underscore the gap between his position and that of European allies, who view Russia's expulsion from the organization as a necessary step in punishing violations of international law.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to arrive in Canada tomorrow as a guest of honor, and he will meet with Trump and the other leaders. Zelensky's arrival is expected to add another dimension to the discussions, particularly given the different positions regarding the desired approach to confronting Russian aggression.
However, the war between Israel and Iran is what stands at the central focus of the discussions. G7 leaders drafted a declaration clearly stating that Israel has the full right to defend itself and that Iran must not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. The declaration, intended to reflect a unified Western position on the Middle Eastern crisis, encountered unexpected opposition from President Trump, who refused to sign the proposed text.
Trump's opposition to the declaration carries broad diplomatic significance, particularly given that Israel is considered a key ally of the United States in the Middle East. The refusal raises questions about the American president's position regarding handling the Iranian crisis and could complicate the West's ability to form a united front against Iran.
The tariff storm initiated by Trump adds another layer of complexity to the discussions. The tariffs, which impose economic pressure on European allies, exacerbate the diplomatic climate and make it difficult to reach agreements on other issues. The combination of economic tensions with disagreements on security matters creates a significant challenge for summit organizers.
The Kananaskis summit exposes the depth of cracks in the Western front during this critical period. While the world faces multiple crises—from the war in Ukraine to tensions in the Middle East—the difficulty of reaching agreements among allies casts a heavy shadow over the West's ability to lead a coordinated and effective response to the security challenges of our time.
Why Didn’t Trump Sign?
According to messages from the G7 summit, it appears that the original statement or its wording is inaccurate. The G7 countries expressed their desire for President Trump to sign a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, but the President refused to comply with the demand, left the summit prematurely, and returned to Washington.
Photo: AP & NEWS 18
