As per the joint statement, President Donald Trump has already stated he will not sign it at the upcoming G7 summit. One should hope that statement encourages more de-escalation between Israel and Iran. This decision underscores his deep-seated skepticism towards multilateral organizations, including the U.N., and their ability to effectively resolve conflict on a global scale. Trump’s hold on his own signature prevents quite a different show of unity from the world’s foremost democracies. This strategy affects their ability to respond to mounting hostility in the Middle East.
The G7 leaders’ summit convenes today for the next two days. It’s leaders from the world’s most important democracies coming together to discuss all sorts of crucially important issues. Trump’s global counterparts are preparing for negotiations. They plan to hold his feet to the fire on how he will address the ever-expanding Israel-Iran regional conflict. This backdrop has been set against rising alarm over Iran’s nuclear program and its influence throughout the region.
The Trump Administration’s relationship with French President Emmanuel Macron has been singularly testy. This tension is rooted in their contrasting expectations about the use of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a conflict mediator. After a recent phone call with the Russian leader, Trump suggested that Putin might act as a mediator himself. This stance marks a huge departure from Macron’s trade, industrial and economic policy.
“Barack Obama and a person named Trudeau didn’t want to have Russia in. And I would say that that was a mistake, because I think you wouldn’t have a war right now if you had Russia in.” – President Donald Trump
Trump called the G7 stupid for kicking Russia out eleven years ago from day 1 of his presidency. He says that this decision raises unnecessary complications to international relations. He emphasized that “not having Vladimir Putin at the table makes life more complicated,” reflecting his belief that inclusion could foster dialogue and reduce tensions.
Despite these tensions, Trump seems to be judiciously hopeful about Iran’s willingness to bargain with Israel. Ideally, he argues, Tehran would be seeking to de-escalate its current conflict and would start talks right away. Coming from an administration which once gave Iran a two-month timeline to conclude a nuclear agreement, they threatened dire repercussions if the talks were to collapse.
“They’d like to talk, but they should have done that before. I had 60 days, and they had 60 days, and on the 61st day, I said, ‘We don’t have a deal.’ They have to make a deal, and 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.” – President Donald Trump
As he prepares to meet Kim in Singapore, Trump is publicly hedging all of his bets. He has shrouded in mystery what conditions would lead to U.S. military engagement in the war. This vagueness certainly opens the door for interpretation as to what exactly America is willing to do in order to support its allies in the region.
A White House official defended Trump’s leadership in international affairs, stating: “Under the strong leadership of President Trump, the United States is back to leading the effort to restore peace around the world. President Trump will continue to work towards ensuring Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.”
