Seven years after a contentious meeting in Charlevoix, Canada is again hosting the G-7 summit of developed economies, this time in Kananaskis.The gathering, wich began this Sunday and will last for three days, sees leaders like Japan’s Shigeru Ihiba, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, and host Mark Carney attending their first such event, while also marking Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the summit.

The meeting is overshadowed by concerns of a potential rift between washington and its Western allies. Issues such as US tariff threats, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and contributions to NATO are key points of contention. The recent escalation of attacks between Israel and Iran further adds urgency to the discussions, making the Middle East a priority issue.

Key Issues on the Agenda

Friedrich merz stated that preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, ensuring Israel’s right to self-defense, de-escalating regional tensions, and fostering negotiation opportunities are primary objectives. Trade, Ukraine, and geopolitical tensions are also slated for discussion during both plenary sessions and smaller, informal meetings.

While “Trump tariffs” aren’t officially on the agenda, their potential impact looms large.According to Edward Lipsky, leaders are wary of Trump’s push for a united front against China, especially given the current trade disputes. “Leaders can answer that this type of coordination … It would be easier if he was not imposing taxes on his allies,” Lipsky noted.

“this issue will appear very up on the agenda of the summit,” Merz saeid before starting his trip.

To streamline discussions, leaders and delegations engaged in preliminary contacts and calls before arriving in Kananaskis. These efforts aim to preempt potential disagreements during bilateral talks.

Ursula von der leyen and Donald Trump discussed tariffs and the geopolitical situation in the Middle East in a phone call, emphasizing the need for coordination on energy markets. Von der Leyen reiterated the EU’s commitment to reaching a tariff agreement before Trump’s July 9 deadline for imposing 50% taxes on the bloc.

similar discussions occurred between the US and Japan, with Shigeru Ihiba hoping to persuade Trump to remove tariffs on Japanese vehicles. Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, also plans to meet with Trump during the summit.

A high-ranking US official stated that the president aims to promote fair and reciprocal business relations for the United States.

Ukraine on the Agenda

A key focus will be the potential bilateral meeting between Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President, Volodimir Zelenski. This marks their second encounter since a previous meeting in February.

G-7 leaders intend to address the situation in Ukraine during their Tuesday morning session. European leaders will seek US support for stronger sanctions against Moscow, especially in the oil sector. however, given Trump’s inclination to support Moscow and the impact of the Middle East crisis on crude oil prices, achieving considerable progress may be challenging.Ukrainian representatives are hoping for friendly interactions with Trump.

The Kananaskis Summit precedes the NATO meeting in Hague on June 24 and 25,where many participants will reconvene to discuss Ukraine,European contributions to the Alliance,and the US role in the institution. These meetings will indicate Trump’s willingness to engage with multilateral systems.

Max Bergmann from the CSIS Studies Center notes, “The big issue here is if the united States is still committed to formats such as G-7. That will be the great test.”