President Donald Trump joined fellow world leaders in the Canadian Rockies on Monday for the first G7 summit of his second term, stepping back into a global spotlight he has often treated with skepticism.
The gathering, held in Kananaskis, Alberta, comes seven years after Trump’s last appearance at a Canadian-hosted G7, where tensions boiled over and a now-iconic photograph captured the moment he clashed with allies over a joint statement he later rejected.
Today, much has changed. The world leaders who surrounded Trump in that 2018 photo — including Germany’s Angela Merkel, Japan’s Shinzo Abe, and Canada’s Justin Trudeau — have either left office or, in Abe’s case, been lost to tragedy. Four of the seven heads of government attending this year’s summit are first-timers, reflecting rapid turnover in leadership across the world’s top economies.
The stakes remain high. Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, economic instability, and global trade disputes all compete for attention. Leaders are also expected to address issues such as AI development, drug trafficking, and climate disasters like wildfires.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that the rising threat from Iran and the risk of nuclear escalation will feature prominently in discussions. Still, Canadian officials have already scrapped the traditional end-of-summit communiqué, seeking instead shorter, issue-focused statements to avoid the type of friction seen in 2018.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the summit in hopes of reinforcing international support, particularly from Trump, who has remained cautious about imposing new penalties on Russia.
While Trump’s aides have played down expectations for breakthrough agreements, they have prioritized trade talks, especially with new tariffs looming. So far, his administration has secured only a framework deal with the United Kingdom.
This year’s format favors shorter sessions and one-on-one meetings, in line with Trump’s preferences. He is also expected to speak with Mexico’s President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, who has criticized his immigration policies.
Trump’s return to the G7 offers a glimpse into how he plans to navigate global diplomacy in his second term. Once critical of multilateral summits, he has now chosen to reengage — at least for now.
“President Trump doesn’t view these gatherings as necessary for American power,” said Rachel Rizzo of the Atlantic Council. “But he clearly enjoys being around the world’s most powerful people — as long as he’s the one leading the room.”
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