G7 leaders meeting in Canada for a two-day summit have called for "de-escalation" in the Middle East with regards to the Israel-Iran conflict and the war in Gaza. However, US President Donald Trump's decision to leave a day early cast a shadow over the discussions which are set to take in the Ukraine crisis and sweeping global tariffs.
"We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza," said the joint statement released by Canada on Monday evening.
The statement said Israel "has a right to defend itself" and stressed "the importance of the protection of civilians," as the growing attacks kill civilians on both sides.
The leaders of the club of industrial democracies – Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States – stated their conviction that Iran "can never have a nuclear weapon."
Since Friday, Israel has struck major nuclear and military sites and killed leading commanders and nuclear scientists in Iran, which has responded with its own volley of drones and missiles on Israel.
G7 leaders gather in Canada for a summit overshadowed by Israel-Iran crisis and trade wars
US President Donald Trump, who hesitated to back the joint G7 statement, relented during dinner.
However, he chose to leave the gathering in the Canadian Rockies a day early, without giving a clear reason.
At a group photo with fellow G7 leaders Trump simply said: "I have to be back as soon as I can. I wish I could stay for tomorrow, but they understand, this is big stuff."
The US leader will miss a day of meetings that was expected to include discussions with the leaders of Ukraine and Mexico.
Talk before it's too late
Trump for weeks said he favored diplomacy, and his envoy Steve Witkoff met five times with Iranian envoys, but he quickly backed Israel's strikes and said Tehran's clerical state should have agreed to his terms.
"It's painful for both parties, but I'd say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk, and they should talk immediately, before it's too late," Trump told reporters earlier as he met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Trump said his early departure had "nothing to do" with working on ceasefire between Israel and Iran, adding France's leader, Emmanuel Macron, was "wrong" in how he described the exit.
Macron had told reporters that the United States was ready to make a diplomatic overture.
"There was an offer made for a meeting and an exchange," Macron said.
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"If the United States can obtain a ceasefire, it is a very good thing," he added.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to suggest Macron had been seeking "publicity".
"Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay tuned!"
Trump has repeatedly declined to say if the United States would participate in Israeli military action, although he has said Washington was not involved in initial strikes and the White House said US forces remained in a defensive posture.
Trump had taken office seeking diplomacy both on Iran and Ukraine, which Russia invaded in 2022.
He has since voiced frustration that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not accepted a US proposal for a ceasefire.
Agreements on tariffs
The summit comes after months of tumult on the global stage since Trump's return to the White House.
Seeking to shatter a decades-old US-led global economic order, Trump has vowed sweeping tariffs on friends and foes alike although he has postponed implementation until 9 July.
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But Trump voiced optimism about a resolution with Canada and signed documents with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to confirm an agreement with Britain.
Other world leaders have called on Trump to back away from his punishing trade war that poses a risk to global economic stability.
Most countries represented at the G7 are already subject to a 10 percent baseline tariff imposed by Trump, under a temporary easing of higher rates, with European countries and Japan also slapped with additional levies on cars and steel and aluminum.
(with AFP)
