BANFF – World leaders have gathered in the Canadian Rockies for the G7 summit, with host Prime Minister Mark Carney hoping to steer clear of diplomatic clashes, especially with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The summit is being held at the scenic mountain resort of Kananaskis, about 90 km west of Calgary. While Canada set priorities like global security, clean energy, and job creation, thorny issues such as U.S. trade tariffs and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East are expected to dominate talks.
This is Trump’s first major international summit since returning to office, and tensions are already high. Past incidents, including his 2018 fallout with then-PM Justin Trudeau, have many leaders on edge. Experts say avoiding a blow-up with Trump may be the summit’s best-case scenario.
In a bid to prevent disruption, Canada has scrapped the traditional joint communique. Instead, individual chair summaries will be issued to maintain unity and reduce chances of open disagreement with the U.S. side. Diplomats believe this approach could help keep dialogue constructive.
Several global leaders, including from Ukraine, Mexico, South Korea, and Brazil, are expected to join the summit to hold bilateral meetings with Trump. However, officials have tempered expectations, with Ukraine simply hoping for a cordial exchange between Trump and President Zelensky.
Meanwhile, observers say this summit could serve as an early test of Trump’s willingness to collaborate with allies. As pressure mounts over Russia and other global issues, all eyes are on whether the U.S. will stand with G7 partners or chart its own path.