Recently, former President Donald Trump has been at the center of international chatter. He is now, perhaps, weighing a possible appearance at the next Group of Seven (G7) summit—hosted this time by Canada and planned for mid-June. The Canadian government is doing a smart turn as it prepares for this possible meeting. They know how convoluted the state of play in U.S.-Canada relations is, given Trump’s noted history of disparaging Canada and its leadership.
In recent remarks, Trump has shifted his tone regarding Canada’s new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, abandoning the nickname “Governor Trudeau” that he previously used to emphasize his ambitions of making Canada the 51st state. This shift in language marks a calculated, diplomatic pivot as Trump wades into the peace talks just before G7 convenes.
Mark Carney, the former and insightful Governor of the Bank of England, is one of the architects of Canada’s economic strategy today. As host, he will try to use the G7 to bring together a concerted response to the war in Ukraine. His initiatives underscore Canada’s role as a beacon of international cooperation and stability in trying times.
While Trump and his aides have begun discussing their participation at the summit, no final decision has been made. Perhaps not surprisingly, past experiences have made Canadian officials very cautious about assuming Trump will show up. When he was president, Trump repeatedly wondered why G7 meetings were even worth holding, viewing them as a waste of time.
Canada is managing expectations for the meeting, focusing on creating a constructive dialogue that could enhance relations between allies rather than setting specific objectives. Canadian officials are prepared to call Trump to account on his past public pledges to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This deal was negotiated during his first term. This reminder could serve as a foundation for discussions on trade, especially given Trump’s recent imposition of tariffs on Canadian exports like steel, aluminum, and auto parts.
Trade-related matters are likely to be at the forefront of the agenda during meetings at the G7 leaders summit. Trump’s tariffs have further complicated the economic relationship between the two countries. Fortunately for Canadians, their officials seem prepared to face these policy threats’ implications head-on. Through this litigation, they want to lay out in clear terms how Trump’s actions violate prior agreements and have upset the bilateral trade balance.
Next week, Trump will be making regional visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and United Arab Emirates. These trips, combined with urgent discussions on trade and Ukraine, will help shape his approach to the G7 summit. During his travels abroad, we can only hope that President Trump will reconsider his approach and his opposition to international cooperation.
Canada’s government remains vigilant regarding Trump’s unpredictability. And so the last face-to-face G7 summit – in Canada in 2018 – finished in such disarray. Trump pulled his support from the final communiqué and publicly berated Trudeau before flying back on Air Force One, early. This history understandably breeds apprehension about what will happen in this year’s meeting.
Amidst these challenges, Mark Carney’s invitation to King Charles III later this month has been viewed as a strategic move against Trump’s territorial aspirations. By reinforcing ties with Canada’s head of state, Carney aims to assert Canada’s sovereignty and diplomatic strength while navigating the complexities of U.S.-Canada relations.
