President Trump will attend the G7 Summit in France.
Despite growing rifts with Western allies over a range of issues from the Iran hotspot to tariff policies, US President Donald Trump will attend the Group of 7 (G7) summit in France next month.
On May 20, a White House official revealed to AFP the plans for President Donald Trump's trip to Europe. Previously, his presence at the summit scheduled for June 15-17 in the Lake Evian resort (French Alps) remained uncertain.
According to information from the White House in January, host country France proactively adjusted the date of the G7 Summit to accommodate President Trump's personal schedule. Notably, this diplomatic event took place immediately after June 14th – Trump's 80th birthday.
Regarding the agenda, Axios reports that the US President is expected to push discussions around three key topics: artificial intelligence (AI), international trade, and crime prevention efforts.
Despite the set schedule, this G7 summit is predicted to take place in a rather turbulent atmosphere. Relations between Washington and G7 members are experiencing considerable friction, particularly since the US military campaign against Iran in February of this year.
The diplomatic rift became increasingly apparent when Trump harshly criticized allies for failing to support the U.S. in clearing the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This vital shipping lane has been effectively blockaded by Iran, leading to a global oil price shock.
Conversely, Western allies (including G7 members) have also frankly expressed concerns about the negative impacts of the US-Israel conflict on their economies. These concerns are further deepened as European nations continue to grapple with tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
In a related development, the White House has yet to confirm whether the US President will attend the NATO Summit in Türkiye in early July.
The G7 group comprises seven major economic powers: the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States. Member countries take turns holding the chairmanship of the group, responsible for organizing the annual summits and ministerial meetings.