US President Donald Trump will attend the upcoming G7 leaders’ summit in France next month, even as tensions continue between Washington and several European allies over issues including Iran, trade and defence cooperation, reported ANI.
According to a White House official cited by Axios, Trump will participate in the annual summit scheduled to take place from June 15 to 17 in Evian-les-Bains. The gathering is expected to bring together leaders from the Group of Seven nations to discuss artificial intelligence, trade, critical minerals, immigration, energy security and global geopolitical challenges.
Trump’s participation had reportedly remained uncertain in recent weeks due to growing disagreements between the United States and key European allies such as France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom over the handling of the Iran conflict and broader foreign policy priorities.
White House says summit aimed at building future consensus
A White House official told Axios that the summit is unlikely to produce major signed agreements but is expected to focus on building consensus on future international cooperation and economic arrangements, reported ANI.
The official said Trump is expected to advocate for linking US foreign aid with trade arrangements that benefit both American investors and recipient countries. The US administration is also likely to push for greater global adoption of American-developed artificial intelligence technologies and reduced dependence on China for critical mineral supply chains.
Discussions at the summit are also expected to include efforts to combat drug trafficking, curb illegal immigration and increase US exports. Energy production, particularly fossil fuel output, is likely to feature prominently on the agenda as well.
Iran’s nuclear programme and the continuing tensions in West Asia are expected to remain central topics during several closed-door discussions among leaders.
Trump continues criticism of NATO allies
In recent months, Trump has repeatedly criticised several NATO allies, accusing them of failing to adequately support Washington during the ongoing tensions involving Iran.
Countries including France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom have faced criticism from the US president over defence commitments and their approach to regional security matters.
The strained diplomatic environment has prompted efforts by some European leaders to stabilise ties with Washington. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently described the United States as Germany’s “most important partner in the North Atlantic Alliance”, softening earlier criticism of Trump’s handling of the Iran crisis.
Earlier this month, Merz posted on X that Germany and the US shared a common objective that Iran should not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. The remarks marked a shift from his earlier comments in April, when he suggested that the Trump administration was struggling in negotiations linked to the West Asia conflict and the Strait of Hormuz.
Public exchanges deepen friction between US and Europe
Trump responded sharply to Merz’s criticism during an executive order signing event at the Oval Office, saying the German Chancellor was “doing a terrible job” and should focus more on domestic issues such as immigration and energy policy.
The US president also claimed he directly questioned Merz about whether Iran should possess nuclear weapons. According to Trump, when the German leader said no, he replied, “Well then, I guess I’m right.”
Separately, Trump also renewed criticism of French President Emmanuel Macron over France’s refusal to join the US-Israeli offensive against Iran. The comments added to an already strained relationship between Washington and Paris.
Greenland dispute and trade tensions remain unresolved
Another point of friction between the United States and European nations has been Trump’s repeated interest in acquiring Greenland, which he argues holds strategic importance because of its location and mineral resources.
Leaders in Denmark, Greenland and across Europe have rejected the proposal, insisting on Greenland’s right to self-determination. France and Germany had also urged the European Union to consider stronger economic measures before Trump later backed away from escalating trade tensions, claiming that a framework agreement had been reached regarding US access to Greenland’s mineral resources.
The upcoming G7 summit is expected to take place against this backdrop of diplomatic strain, with differences over Iran, trade and security policy continuing to test relations between the United States and its traditional allies.
(With inputs from ANI)