World leaders gather in Alberta for G7 summit amid shifting diplomatic priorities
Leaders from some of the largest powers in the world arrived in Alberta, Canada, on Sunday, June 15, for the Group of Seven (G7) summit. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will not issue a joint statement at the end of the summit. The document usually outlines the leaders’ shared positions on summit issues and offers a roadmap for how they intend to address them.
The Group of Seven comprises Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom. The European Union is also a member, and the summit is attended by other heads of state who are not part of the G7 but have been invited by Carney.
The Associated Press reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend and is expected to meet with President Donald Trump.
Top Discussions
On the flight to Canada, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters he plans to discuss efforts to de-escalate global conflicts involving Israel.
“We do have longstanding concerns about the nuclear program Iran has. We do recognize Israel’s right to self-defense, but I’m absolutely clear that this needs to de-escalate,” Starmer said. “There is a huge risk of escalation for the region and more widely.”
On Monday, June 16, G7 leaders are expected to focus on the global economy. Tuesday’s itinerary includes Zelenskyy and NATO’s secretary general, Mark Rutte.
Bilateral meetings expected
The New York Times reports bilateral meetings are also expected over the next few days. The Times reports that Trump will likely meet with Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to discuss a free-trade agreement.
In a call with reporters Friday, June 13, a senior U.S. official granted anonymity to preview the summit offered little in the way of specific goals, saying only that Trump sought to “make progress” in a range of areas, including “making America’s trade relationships fair and reciprocal.”
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have said they expect protests in Calgary and in Banff, a smaller resort town, both of which are near Kananaskis.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
