President Donald Trump is set to arrive in the Canadian Rockies late Sunday evening for the Group of Seven (G7) summit, expressing optimism about potential trade agreements and dealmaking as world leaders prepare to address escalating global tensions.
The gathering in Kananaskis, Alberta, will bring together leaders of the world’s largest economies amid an increasingly volatile international landscape.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email on Sunday for comment.
Why It Matters
This G7 summit represents a critical test of international cooperation as leaders confront multiple crises simultaneously.
The gathering comes at a pivotal moment when global trade relationships, Middle East stability, and international security concerns intersect, potentially reshaping diplomatic alliances and economic partnerships.
What To Know
“I think we’ll have a few new trade deals,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Sunday as he departed for the summit.
The summit agenda encompasses a broad range of pressing issues, including fairness in global trade, critical minerals access, illegal migration, drug smuggling, and international security.
However, the gathering is overshadowed by escalating conflict between Israel and Iran following Israel’s surprise attack on Iranian leadership and nuclear facilities last week. Trump’s trade ambitions at the G7 come against the backdrop of his administration’s struggling “90 deals in 90 days” promise.
Announced in April alongside sweeping tariffs, the initiative has yielded only two agreements so far—with the UK and China—far short of the ambitious 90-deal target before the July 9 deadline.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that the administration would likely extend the 90-day pause on tariff implementation to allow more time for negotiations with trading partners acting “in good faith.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has made the unprecedented decision to abandon the annual practice of issuing a joint communique at the summit’s conclusion, reflecting the challenging diplomatic climate. The summit risks becoming a series of bilateral conversations rather than a unified display of international cooperation.
Trump’s inflammatory threats to make Canada the “51st state” and take over Greenland loom over the proceedings. French President Emmanuel Macron made a symbolic stop in Greenland on Sunday, declaring that the territory is “not to be sold” nor “to be taken.”
Other invited leaders from India, Ukraine, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, Australia, Mexico, and the UAE will be focused on avoiding potential U.S. tariffs.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump on Middle East tensions: “Sometimes they have to fight it out, but we’re going to see what happens. I think there’s a good chance there will be a deal.”
French President Emmanuel Macron on Greenland: “Everybody in France, the European Union thinks that Greenland is not to be sold, not to be taken. The situation in Greenland is clearly a wakeup call for all Europeans.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Canada’s sovereignty: “Canada is an independent, sovereign country and a much-valued member of the Commonwealth.”
Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien on Trump’s approach: “He tends to be a bully. If Trump has decided to make a show to be in the news, he will do something crazy. Let him do it and keep talking normally.”
AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
What Happens Next
The summit officially begins Monday with Trump’s bilateral meeting with Carney, followed by multilateral discussions throughout the week.
World leaders will navigate complex negotiations on trade agreements while addressing the Israel-Iran crisis and surging oil prices.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
