G-7 summit in France gauges the rift in the West

The G-7 summit, which brings together seven of the world’s most industrialized democracies, will gauge this week the depth of the rift in the West — the division between the United States and its traditional allies. The summit runs from Monday through Wednesday in the French town of Évian-les-Bains, on the shores of Lake Geneva. The eve of the meeting was marked by a protest in Geneva, attended by thousands, during which there were acts of vandalism and clashes with police.

The wars in Iran and Ukraine and the complicated economic relationship with China are expected to be the meeting’s central topics, although the agenda foresees other items, such as the challenges posed by artificial intelligence.

Alongside the leaders of the group’s permanent members — the United States, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Canada — the French presidency in office has invited other heavyweight leaders. Notable among them are Narendra Modi (India), Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Brazil) and Volodymyr Zelenskiy (Ukraine). In addition to plenary sessions, other bilateral and multilateral meetings are planned, including ones that U.S. President Donald Trump will hold with representatives of Middle Eastern countries.

The French presidency has taken several preventive measures to avoid the obvious tensions between Trump and Washington’s traditional allies ending the summit abruptly and acrimoniously. To that end, the start of the meeting was postponed by one day to accommodate the celebration of the U.S. president’s 80th birthday in Washington; the diplomatic work has been structured with no plan for a joint general declaration — only a statement from the presidency and some joint sectoral communiqués. A dinner between French President Emmanuel Macron and Trump at the end of the summit has also been arranged, which appears to serve as an anchor to prevent the U.S. president from leaving early as he has done on other occasions.

Even with the underlying difficulties of widening rifts and growing distrust between Washington and its partners, the meeting is significantly important for trying to manage complex and dangerous issues. Below is a look at the main ones.

The wars in Ukraine and Iran

The two conflicts will likely occupy a privileged place at the summit. Concern about their consequences is global. In Iran’s case, hopes are growing after the parties reached a preliminary agreement allowing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, thereby enabling a gradual normalization of the hydrocarbon trade.

Trump is scheduled to meet in Évian-les-Bains with leaders from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, the latter deeply involved in the conflict as a mediating country. It is clear the U.S. president wants to push through the agreement, although his entry conditions amount to little more than the reopening of a strait that was only blocked by the U.S. attack itself. Israel’s actions, meanwhile, have been threatening to derail the pact. Containing Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to be a central element of the discussions.

As for Ukraine, President Zelenskiy arrives at the summit in a much stronger position than before. He has leverage, unlike during the now-infamous Oval Office encounter with Trump in February 2025. Ukraine is inflicting heavy damage on Russia, both in terms of personnel losses and the destruction of energy infrastructure on Russian territory. The Kremlin is unable to make territorial gains and is even losing ground, as is reflected in Putin’s popularity rating.

European G-7 members will try to persuade Trump that it is time to maintain pressure on Putin so that he finally understands he must stop and agree to negotiate a ceasefire that is not predicated on Ukraine’s surrender.

China

The relationship with China is the other major item. All G-7 members are watching with concern certain aspects of the Asian giant’s rise, including its enormous manufacturing capacity, built on colossal subsidies, which threatens to crush competition elsewhere in the world. This dynamic causes deep alarm because of the destruction of productive sectors and the creation of dangerous dependencies.

However, on this issue and others there is no consensus among G-7 partners — not even among the Europeans — on how to address it. Some favor a tougher stance — such as France — while others are more cautious — such as Germany. In the background is the United States, which has opted to stabilize relations with Beijing after noting China’s large capacity for retaliation following the tariff offensive.

Global South

The presence of Modi and Lula at the summit is of great interest. Europe is clearly scouting the horizon to reconfigure international relations in a framework in which the transatlantic relationship is no longer the guarantee it was for decades after World War II. Interaction with India and Brazil is central to building those new geometries.

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