As leaders of the Group of Seven prepare to meet next week in Canada, attention turns to the participation of U.S. President Donald Trump, amid fears of a repeat of the tense scene that occurred at the Charlevoix summit in 2018, when Trump suddenly withdrew from the final statement and publicly attacked then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Calculated Diplomatic Preparations

According to a report by CTV News, Prime Minister Mark Carney's government is making intense behind-the-scenes efforts to ensure tensions with Washington are minimized, aiming to avoid what Canadian officials described as the “chaotic scenario” that recurred at previous summits attended by Trump.

A Senior Diplomatic Source Told the Paper:

“We know exactly how things can turn with Trump… We are working to keep the agenda flexible, focusing on issues where common ground can be found.”

No Unified Final Statement?

According to media reports, a joint final statement from this year’s summit is expected to be avoided, in an attempt to sidestep public disagreements between the United States and other members on sensitive issues such as Ukraine, climate, and artificial intelligence.

Contentious Issues on the Table

Some of the key issues expected to dominate the discussions include:

Western support for Ukraine amid Washington's reservations about certain aspects of funding.

Climate policies and carbon neutrality, in light of the Trump administration’s rejection of previous climate commitments.

Global trade and the impact of the tariff dispute between Canada and the United States.

Widespread International Presence

The summit will be held in Alberta, Canada, with leaders from outside the group also in attendance, including the presidents of Ukraine, India, Brazil, and Mexico, as part of expanding the dialogue on complex global issues.