Donald Trump will join the leaders of France, Canada, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Japan at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, from Monday to Wednesday. The summit's host, French President Emmanuel Macron, has shaped the agenda to make it attractive to Trump, but it remains uncertain whether the U.S. president will stay for the entire three days or cause disruptions.
Trump's Unpredictable Attendance
Trump left the previous G7 summit in Canada early to work on the Iran conflict, and this year, Iran might again draw his attention. He previously insulted Macron, calling him "publicity seeking" and saying he "always gets it wrong." Macron, attending his 10th G7 summit, has not taken offense and even delayed the start to allow Trump to celebrate his 80th birthday at a UFC event. Macron hopes Trump will stay for a dinner at Versailles on Wednesday night, as Trump admires the palace's gold.
Key Issues: Iran, Ukraine, Gaza
Trump may demand swift action on the Franco-British naval taskforce to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as outlined in the U.S.-Iran memorandum. Other G7 leaders oppose the Iran war, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz calling it a U.S. humiliation. They must decide whether to look ahead or judge the war that has disrupted the global economy.
Trump downplays the war's economic impact, telling Fox News that oil prices have not risen as much as predicted. However, the World Bank cut global growth forecasts from 2.9% to 2.5%, the lowest since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bank of Japan is expected to raise interest rates to a 31-year high, and the European Central Bank raised rates for the first time since 2023 due to inflation fears. Container shipping rates have doubled since the war began.
On Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend on Tuesday. Recent battlefield progress gives him leverage, but May saw the highest civilian death toll since the war began. Macron wants Europe to play a larger role in solving the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts, noting that Europe is saving Ukraine from bankruptcy. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni proposes an EU envoy for Ukraine, but Macron is skeptical.
France will push for a resolution in Gaza regarding Hamas disarmament. Trump will meet leaders from Qatar, UAE, and Egypt to discuss the crisis and Iran fallout. No joint communique will be signed; Macron will issue a chairman's summary.
Trade and Technology
Macron plans concise communiques after each working session, seeking common ground on critical mineral supply chains, artificial intelligence, containing geopolitical conflicts, and reforming development partnerships. Tech leaders such as Sam Altman (OpenAI) and Arthur Mensch (Mistral AI) will attend, allowing Macron to promote regulatory initiatives, including banning social media for those under 15 or 16.
The climate crisis is off the agenda to avoid a row. Instead, Macron focuses on global economic imbalances, particularly Chinese exports and state subsidies. Chinese success in electric vehicles has alarmed Europe, leading to calls for protectionism and EU tariffs. Macron frames this as collective solidarity rather than China-bashing, urging China to generate more internal demand. Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing attended a related event, denying unfair trade practices.
If tensions rise, the Évian golf course, dating back to 1904, offers an escape for the world's most famous 80-year-old golfer.
