Trump Leaves G7 Early amid Middle East Crisis

Tuesday 17 June 2025 - 07:00

By: Zahouani Ilham

Trump Leaves G7 Early amid Middle East Crisis

U.S. President Donald Trump cut short his participation in the G7 summit held in Canada, departing a day earlier due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, according to a White House announcement on Monday.

French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that Trump had proposed a ceasefire initiative between Israel and Iran. This comes after Trump had called for immediate evacuations from Tehran and reiterated his stance that Iran should have accepted a nuclear agreement with the United States.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on X (formerly Twitter), “A great deal was achieved, but due to developments in the Middle East, President Trump will be departing this evening after the dinner with other world leaders.”

The summit, attended by leaders from the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the European Union, has struggled to reach consensus on conflicts including Ukraine and the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran. Trump's open support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the tariffs imposed on U.S. allies have further deepened divisions.

A U.S. official confirmed that Trump declined to endorse a joint statement urging de-escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict. Still, Macron welcomed Trump's departure, interpreting it as a sign of commitment to securing a ceasefire. "There was indeed a proposal to initiate dialogue and move toward a ceasefire and broader negotiations," Macron said.

The summit took place in Kananaskis, a mountain resort area in the Canadian Rockies, and was scheduled to continue through Tuesday. In a joint appearance with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump criticized the 2014 expulsion of Russia from the former G8, calling it a strategic error. He argued that if Russia had remained a member, it might have deterred the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

"Putin talks to me he doesn’t talk to anyone else," Trump claimed. "He’s still upset about being pushed out and hardly communicates with those who made that decision. And I understand his position."

While Trump did not explicitly advocate for Russia’s return to the group, his remarks raised concerns about the potential outcome of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s scheduled visit.

European leaders were reportedly seeking to convince Trump to back stricter sanctions against Russia. Despite this, a spokesperson from Ukraine’s embassy in Canada confirmed Zelensky would still attend the summit.

Canada opted against issuing a final communique, in an effort to avoid a repeat of the 2018 incident when Trump withdrew U.S. approval post-summit. Draft documents addressing issues such as migration, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals have been prepared, but none have received U.S. endorsement.

With Trump’s early exit, the likelihood of issuing joint declarations is uncertain, according to a European diplomat.

In addition to G7 members, the summit included invited nations such as Mexico, India, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, Australia, and Ukraine.

Trump also announced a finalized trade deal with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, making the UK the first nation to secure reduced U.S. tariffs. Canadian Prime Minister Carney said he and Trump agreed to pursue a new economic and security partnership within 30 days.

While Trump mentioned the potential for a U.S.-Canada trade agreement, he emphasized the need for tariffs a position firmly rejected by Canadian officials.

"Our stance remains clear: Canadian exports to the U.S. should not face tariffs," affirmed Canada’s ambassador to Washington, Kirsten Hillman.