The remaining six leaders at the G7 are forging ahead today after U.S. President Donald Trump’s early departure from the summit.
Trump touched down in Kananaskis, Alta. Sunday night and was expected to remain until Tuesday for meetings with other global leaders. But the president left after Monday night’s family dinner to deal with the escalating war between Israel and Iran.
“I have to be back early. I loved it. I tell you I loved it. And I think we got a lot done,” Trump told reporters Monday evening.
“But we had just a really great relationship with everybody. It was really nice. I wish I could stay for tomorrow but they understand, this is big stuff.”
Trump’s departure means he will miss non-G7 leaders attending the summit Tuesday, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The summit has pivoted to address the Middle East crisis, which continues to escalate as Israel pushes to end Iran’s nuclear program.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, chair of this year’s summit in Alberta, said he “fully understands” why Trump made an early exit and is “grateful for the president’s presence.”
Earlier Monday, during his bilateral meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump hinted that he might have to leave early when he was asked about bringing Iran to the table.
“I think Iran basically is at the negotiating table. They want to make a deal,” he said. “And as soon as I leave here, we’re going to be doing something. But I have to leave here. I have … this commitment. I have a lot of commitments.”
G7 leaders released a joint statement late that same night calling for a “de-escalation” of hostilities in the Middle East.
The joint statement from the group — made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the European Union — affirms Israel’s right to defend itself and recognizes Iran as “the principal source of regional instability and terror” but also calls for some sort of “resolution.”
“We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza,” the leaders said in their statement, made public after a working dinner at the summit.
Trump’s departure is likely a letdown for the leaders who travelled for the second day of meetings in Kananaskis and hoped to bend Trump’s ear.
Sheinbaum made it clear she was making the trip north in hopes of meeting with the president to talk tariffs.
Zelenskyy will also be at the table Tuesday, and has been lobbying Trump to play a role in securing a peace deal with Russia.
Trump addresses decision to leave G7 summit early
While he won’t be getting one-on-one time with Trump, Zelenskyy won’t be leaving empty-handed.
Carney is expected to announce more support for Ukraine as part of his promise to increase defence spending this year.
The government has earmarked $2 billion for military aid to Ukraine and to expand defence partnerships.
A source said the government is expected to reveal Tuesday how much money from that bucket will go toward Ukraine, and what it will be used for.
Carney is expected to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he tests renewing ties with the global economic power. The controversial meeting comes just months after the RCMP accused Indian agents of orchestrating a campaign of violence on Canadian soil, including acts of of murder, extortion and coercion.
Nearly two years ago, then-prime minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada had evidence linking Indian agents to the Nijjar killing.
Other invitees at the table Tuesday include Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (this year’s G20 chair), South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and World Bank President Ajay Banga.
