Summit in the Rocky Mountains: G7 stumbles into the new time with Trump

Permanent differences in dealing with Russia, no tangible progress in the customs dispute and only a narrow explanation of the escalation in the Middle East: After Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the G7 Group of Democratic business powers faces an uncertain future. From the first summit in a new constellation, the US President left the war between Iran and Israel after the first summit day, and the background was initially unclear.

And he said goodbye to French President Emmanuel Macron. The “public -sided” head of state wrongly claimed to go back to Washington to work on a ceasefire, Trump wrote shortly after entering the Air Force One government machine on the Truth Social platform. “He has no idea why I’m on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a ceasefire.” It’s about something “much bigger”.

Merz: Trump’s departure “no drama”

In any case, the signal of unity that Chancellor Friedrich Merz wanted does not go from the summit to the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The CDU politician was “very satisfied” with the course in television interviews. To leave Trump, he said RTL and NTV that that was “not a drama” for him. The most important conversations had taken place on the first day of the summit anyway.

Trump surprises allies

Trump had surprised the alliance partners with his sudden departure. In the Merz delegation, it was assumed shortly before that the US President would remain until the end of the summit on Tuesday evening. What the step means, also remained the subject of speculation on Tuesday. Do the United States want to intervene militarily in the conflict between Israel and Iran? Or is it a matter of coming to a negotiating solution?

There is no decision by the Americans yet, said Merz Welt TV. “It now also depends on how far the Mullah regime is willing to return to the negotiating table,” said the Chancellor. “If not, there could be such a further development, but we have to wait.”

Trump started with a provocation into the summit

Already in the few hours that Trump had taken part in the summit before his departure, it was not really well for the G7. The US President started the meeting with a provocation and regretted the exclusion of Russia from the group of states as a “big mistake”. Putin was thrown out of the G8 at the time after the Annexion of the Ukrainian Crimea. Since then, his return has been considered unthinkable to the Europeans – especially after the invasion of Ukraine 2022.

No progress in Russia sanctions and tariffs

Trump was rather dismantling about the new sanctions against Russia. “Don’t forget that sanctions cost us a lot of money,” he emphasized. “When I sanction a country, the United States costs a lot of money.” However, Canada and Great Britain announced new sanctions against Russia – but without the USA.

There was also no tangible progress with another issue that is important for the EU. The fierce customs dispute between the EU and the USA was not even addressed at Trump’s meeting with Merz.

Conciliatory signal before departure

However, it can be seen as a conciliatory sign that the G7 could still agree on a joint explanation of the escalation in the Middle East. In the text, Iran is referred to as “the main source of regional instability and terror” and Israel emphasizes the right to self -defense. Furthermore, the G7 heads of state and government explain that it was always unequivocally clear that Iran should never get into the possession of a nuclear weapon

There were only six

On the second day of the summit, the G7 shrank to the G6. This was painful for the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj, who actually wanted to talk to Trump about further pressure on Russia. Particularly bitter for him: in his absence, Russia covered the capital Kiev and Odessa with severe air raids. At least 16 people were killed and around 140 injured.

“Such attacks are pure terrorism. And the whole world, the United States and Europe must finally react to terrorists as civilized societies,” said Selenskyj. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin attacks “because he can afford to continue the war”.

NATO summit more important for Europeans

This message is primarily aimed at Trump. At the NATO summit in the Haag, Selenskyj may get another chance to speak to the US president. This summit is much more important for him, but also for the European alliance partners than the meeting in Canada. It is about how the transatlantic alliance can better prepare for the Russian threat. And the United States plays a very leading role.

For a long time, the Europeans feared whether Trump would even come to the Hague. In the meantime he has registered. When asked whether Trump would stay with it, Merz carefully replies in a ZDF interview: “He firmly promised me.”