G7 allies seek to narrow differences with Donald Trump at France summit

MULTILATERAL ORGANISATIONS

12 JUNE 2026

• Europe’s leading nations and their G7 allies will seek to narrow differences with Donald Trump at a summit from Monday in France chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron but expected to be dominated by the U.S. leader’s presence.
• The summit will be one of the first major international gatherings since the U.S. and its ally Israel began a war against Iran in late February 2026.
• With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in attendance, they will look to find a united front on bringing Russia to the negotiating table to end over four years of war sparked by Moscow’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour.
• But the other members of the G7 will also be looking to press Mr. Trump to accept concessions on global trade imbalances — in the face of his protectionist trade policies.
• There is also pressure for greater regulation of big tech firms to protect minors, despite U.S. reluctance.
• France has been keen to expand the appeal of the Group of Seven leading economies (G7)— Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and United States — beyond its core membership.
• Mr. Macron has invited the leaders of Brazil, Egypt, India, Kenya and South Korea to the meeting.
• In a bid to find regional consensus on Iran, Mr. Macron has invited the leaders of Arab states Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to a special session.
• But China will be conspicuous by its absence. There is growing concern in the West over Beijing’s dominance in the market for rare earth minerals.
• Mr. Trump, always a mercurial presence, will be arriving at the G7 summit fresh from celebrating his 80th birthday on June 14.
• The talks will lead up to a summit of the wider G20 group that includes China — to be hosted in December 2026 by Mr. Trump at a golf resort he owns in Miami.

G7 2025 in Canada

• At the 51st G7 Summit held in Canada, US President Donald Trump’s attendance was highly contentious due to his “America First” trade policies and diverging stances on the Ukraine War.
• Tensions led to a fractured summit where leaders skipped the traditional joint communiqué, and Trump left early.
• French officials want to ensure that there is no repeat of this.