The G7 Summit in the Canadian Rocky Mountains has concluded its first day, with a largely harmonious tone, but the sudden departure of US President Donald Trump has left a surprise at the end of the day. The meeting will continue on Tuesday without the US President, who cited the need to attend to “many important matters” particularly the events in the Middle East.
The focus of the day’s discussions was on security issues, with the Ukrainian President, Selenskyj and NATO Secretary General, Rutte, set to join the summit. A bilateral meeting between Trump and Selenskyj was also planned, with the Ukrainian President seeking to secure further support in the defense war against Russia. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the host of the summit, expressed understanding for Trump’s early departure.
The US had recently boosted its military presence in the region, with US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth stating that the protection of its troops had the “highest priority.” Meanwhile, Trump called on the people of Tehran to leave the city immediately.
Despite Trump’s departure, the G7 leaders had surprisingly agreed on a joint statement on the conflict between Israel and Iran earlier in the day. The G7 nations reaffirmed that Israel has the right to defend itself and expressed their support for Israel’s security, while labeling Iran as the “main cause of regional instability and terrorism.” The statement also emphasized that Iran should never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.
This issue is likely to be closed at the summit, with the topic of energy security set to dominate the discussions on Tuesday. The leaders of India, Brazil, Mexico and Australia have also been invited to the meeting.