Canada is expected to welcome leaders of the world’s largest economies for Summit G7 From Sunday, and the issues could not be higher.
US President Donald Trump Multi-Front trade war causes countries to rush to reduce their prices. The ceasefire failed to stick to Gaza and Ukraine. The allies are collectively focusing on the strengthening of their defenses to counter China, Russia and other threat actors. And the rise in artificial intelligence has opened opportunities and risks on several fronts.
For the Prime Minister Mark CarneyHe will mark his most prominent stage as he seeks to normalize relations with Trump and the repositioning of Canada as an important ally.
Here’s what to expect during the summit.
Avoid past discord, with us, possible business
The last time Canada hosted the G7 leader’s summit took place in 2018, and quickly saw the tensions evad.
Trump’s clashes with the Minister of the time, Justin Trudeau, and other leaders above trade, led the United States not to approve the official press release of the G7, and the French Minister of Foreign Affairs nicknamed the summit the “G6 Plus One”.
A rehearsal of this show would be a “nightmarish scenario” for Canada and the Alliance, said Allen Sens, professor of political science at the University of British Columbia, in an email.
Since his return to functions this year, Trump has only doubled actions that fueled discord at this previous summit: imposing radical prices on the allies, reverse or reduce the action of climate change and reopening dialogue with Russia.
However, the magnitude of Trump’s trade wars this time means that leaders will likely demand their own agreements on prices and other questions beyond the official G7 press release – including Canada.
The summit will mark the first time that Carney and Trump will be face to face from their White House meeting in May.
Pete Hoekstra, the American ambassador to Canada, said on Wednesday The two leaders consider the rally as a “inflection point” in their direct negotiations towards a new potential agreement.
“They both go to the same place, they both go to Canada, and there would be a lot of questions if there is not something that is announced,” he said at an event in Ottawa.
“Until it happens, it’s always a possibility.”
What will others be discussed?
Carney last week announced what he said to be Canada’s priorities For discussions at the top of the G7, which all aim to “build stronger savings”.
The Prime Minister’s office said Ottawa’s absolute priority will strengthen world peace and security, which includes the fight against foreign interference and transnational crime, as well as improving responses to forest fires.
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Canada will focus on economic stimulation by improving energy safety, strengthening the supply chains for critical minerals and accelerating the use of artificial intelligence.
Finally, Canada will discuss job creation by obtaining partnerships to open new markets and generate major investments in infrastructure.
G7 finance ministers and the Governors of the Central Bank who met in Banff last month before the Summit of Managers agreed to cooperate By continuing economic growth, ensuring price stability and certainty, the fight against financial crime and the support of Ukraine.
“I would consider any press release which contains substantive collective agreements on the main questions such as a triumph, with a bland document the most likely result,” said Sens News.
David Perry, president of the Global Canadian Affairs Institute, told Global News that Trump’s influence would likely mean that the problems of agreement made – including shared environmental initiatives and “equity, diversity and inclusion” – will either be less prominent or reduced.
However, he still thinks that agreements can be struck among allies with questions of shared importance that go beyond tensions that Trump’s prices have caused – especially on energy security and artificial intelligence.
The PMO has said that discussions will also include securing peace in Ukraine and other world conflicts, as well as “a prospective program that hires partners beyond the G7”.
Other world leaders whose countries are not part of the G7 but who will attend the summit are the heads of Mexico, Brazil, South Korea, Australia, South Africa and Ukraine.
The attendance of the Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum will mark the first time that North American leaders will be together, because Trump’s commercial wars have threatened the agreement of the Canada-Mexico-mexico-mexic states (CUSMA) which is expected to examine next year.
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would ensure talks at the top and other high -level rallies in the coming weeks would not lead to “hollow” agreements on the war of his country.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also assist In Carney’s Invitation, a decision that sparked criticism from diaspora groups in Canada – including members of the Liberal Caucus of Carney.
Modi’s government was accused of being involved in violence and intimidation against Sikh activists and politicians in Canada, including the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in 2023.
The Government of Carney also invited the crown prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed Bin Salman For the summit, Global News has learned, but the Saudi leader has not yet publicly accepted the invitation.
The Critique of Foreign Affairs of the NPD, Heather McPherson, accused the government of transforming the summit into a “showcase of tyrants” with the invitations of Bin Salman and Modi during the question period on Tuesday.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, replied that the G7 is “a critical forum for world leaders to have productive and frank discussions”.
Vina Nadjibulla, vice-president of the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada, said that the Trump election and the growing threat environment require a “different approach” of diplomatic relations, which is exposed under Carney.
The invitation to Modi was particularly necessary, she said, given the size of the economy of India and strategic importance. She added that restoring the relationship with India could lead to additional cooperation on the issue of transnational violence and foreign interference.
“I think we must recognize that in the more dangerous world today, we must be able to commit and have high-level discussions with counties with which we have serious disagreements,” she told Global News.
“Diplomacy is not a favor to our friends – it is a tool to advance our interests and protect our values.”
Why Canada leadership is important
Perry said Canada would have bread to the G7 presidency, but agreed that the time was good when the responsibility appeared this year, with the Trump trade war still in its early days.
“You can play a role in training things, and you can find yourself at a table that you literally arranged for a discussion that you helped define the agenda, with the leaders of … Most major economies in the world, including the President of the United States,” he said.
“It’s a fairly unique role and opportunity for Canada.”
He suggested that the summit will also be a pivotal test for Carney as Prime Minister – not only in the relationship with Trump, but with other leaders in this table.
“If the Prime Minister of Canada cannot make good use of time with six world leaders and an opportunity for Canadian creation, he should probably consider other lines of work,” he said.