Background and Relevance
At the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, leaders from seven of the world’s most advanced economies—Alemania, Canadá, Francia, Italia, Reino Unido, Japón, and Estados Unidos—issued a joint declaration addressing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The summit, which took place for the first time since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, was meticulously planned to ensure the U.S. president’s attendance without causing chaos.
Typically, the annual gathering of these global leaders focuses on the world’s economic outlook and energy security. This year, however, other significant topics such as gender equality, climate change, biodiversity, poverty, health, and LGBTQ+ rights were notably absent from the agenda.
Joint Declaration Content
The joint statement emphasized the need for a “de-escalation” of tensions in the Middle East while acknowledging Israel’s right to self-defense amidst its growing military conflict with Iran.
“We affirm that Israel has the right to defend itself,” the text reads. “We have consistently stated that Iran must never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.”
The leaders urged for a resolution to the Iranian crisis that would lead to a broader de-escalation in the Middle East, including an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Surprise Agreement
The declaration came as a surprise, given rumors that the United States might not agree with the other G7 members. Despite these concerns, President Trump joined the rest of the group in signing the statement.
Trade Tensions
The leaders called on President Trump to reverse his trade war stance, arguing that it poses a risk to global economic stability. They urged him to abandon plans for higher tariffs worldwide, scheduled to take effect the following month.
“Several participants urged ending the tariff dispute as soon as possible,” a senior German official said anonymously to reporters.
The official added that the dispute weakens the economies of the G7 members and ultimately strengthens China, according to the source.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main topic of the G7 summit in Canada? The primary focus of this year’s G7 summit is the Middle East conflict, with an emphasis on de-escalation and Israel’s right to self-defense.
- Why is the joint statement surprising? The declaration came as a surprise due to earlier rumors suggesting that the United States might not agree with the other G7 members.
- What other topics were notably absent from the G7 agenda? Significant topics such as gender equality, climate change, biodiversity, poverty, health, and LGBTQ+ rights were notably missing from this year’s G7 agenda.
- What concerns did the G7 leaders express regarding trade? The leaders urged President Trump to reverse his trade war stance, arguing that it poses a risk to global economic stability and weakens the G7 members’ economies.
