This year’s agenda reflects a change influenced by Trump’s return to the White House and a renewed focus on the G7’s original mission, experts say.
WASHINGTON—When President Donald Trump joins world leaders at the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada on June 15, he’ll find a different agenda awaiting him. In a significant departure from recent years, the host nation is sidelining climate action and gender equality, issues that were once central to the summit’s mission.
This year’s gathering will prioritize issues such as energy security, artificial intelligence (AI), critical mineral supply chains, and global economic stability, reflecting a shift in priorities driven by Trump’s return to the White House and a renewed focus on the G7’s original mission, according to experts.
Trade tensions, heightened by recent U.S. tariffs, along with geopolitical crises like the Israel–Iran escalation, the Russia–Ukraine war, and the Gaza conflict, will also be key topics in the leaders’ discussions.
Many believe Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, as the host of this year’s summit, is adopting a pragmatic approach to ensure the meeting addresses the most pressing challenges that resonate with all member countries.
If topics such as climate change or gender are raised, leaders are unlikely to go beyond existing agreements or make new commitments, Paul Samson, head of the Centre for International Governance Innovation, a Canada-based think tank, told The Epoch Times.
Many organizations and even some countries are hoping for new commitments on gender and climate, he noted, “but it’s not going to happen at this table.”
“They wouldn’t even be able to get it in the communiqué with President Trump there,” he said.
The upcoming meeting, which marks the 50th anniversary of the G7, will be held in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17.
The group—which comprises the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union—represents more than half of global GDP.
“We applaud the back-to-basics approach the Canadians have taken on the G7, focusing on core economic issues and actionable issues where the G7 can have a meaningful, measurable impact,” a U.S. official told The Epoch Times.
By Emel Akan
