Kananaskis: Leaders of some of the world’s wealthiest countries have convened at a luxury mountain lodge in Canada’s Rockies for this year’s G7 summit. This elite gathering comes as Western allies grapple with multiple crises, spanning conflicts on three continents and widespread economic instability. Canada, chairing the G7 this year, hosts leaders from Italy, the US, France, Germany, the UK, and Japan in Kananaskis, Alberta, with a focus on streamlined priorities centered around the global economy and security.
According to BBC, the summit presents a significant moment for Carney, who faces the challenge of addressing Iran’s sudden prominence on the G7 agenda, a topic likely to provoke complex discussions. The summit is also a test of Carney’s ability to achieve three ambitious goals for Canada: assuming a leadership role on the global stage, becoming the strongest G7 economy, and reducing dependency on the US. Scrutiny will be on Carney’s handling of US President Donald Trump, who has often challenged Canada’s sovereignty. John Kirton, director of the G7 Research Group at the University of Toronto, notes that Carney’s approach to Trump will be closely watched, starting from the arrival ceremony.
The summit provides Carney an opportunity to secure Canadian victories, potentially including new trade and security deals with the US. At a prior meeting in Washington, Carney gifted Trump with golf gear from the Kananaskis Country Club, hinting at the strategic importance of these discussions. Meanwhile, the summit occurs amid a global trade war initiated by Trump, who has employed tariffs to rebalance trading relationships. The World Bank predicts this will result in the slowest decade for global economic growth since the 1960s, setting the stage for potentially tense discussions.
Trump’s recent election win has shifted the summit’s agenda beyond trade, offering him a platform to secure achievements on other priorities like migration, critical minerals, security, and drug trafficking. The summit will open with a discussion on the global economy, followed by agenda items addressing these issues. Trump has scheduled one-on-one meetings, including a session with Carney.
This marks Trump’s second visit to Canada as US president, following a turbulent summit in Charlevoix, Quebec, in 2018. That event ended in disarray, highlighted by a now-famous image of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel confronting Trump. Carney aims to avoid a similar outcome and emphasized to Sky News the importance of consistency in communication during and after the summit.
Canada has opted to forgo a final communique, instead issuing six short joint statements on topics such as wildfires and critical minerals. The summit’s priorities include building stronger economies and enhancing peace and security, with a focus on artificial intelligence and critical mineral supply chains. Climate change is incorporated into the agenda, with a senior government official highlighting efforts to improve the global response to forest fires.
Ukraine’s situation is another key topic, with President Volodymyr Zelensky attending to discuss continued support, sanctions against Russia, and reconstruction financing. Carney has prioritized countering foreign interference, particularly in global diaspora communities, potentially leading to tense discussions with non-G7 leaders.
As host, Canada has invited several non-G7 leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite strained relations over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada. Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, will also attend, setting the stage for discussions on North American trade, disrupted by Trump’s tariffs. Carney has extended invitations to European and NATO leaders and counterparts from Australia, South Africa, South Korea, Indonesia, and Brazil.