Now only six - G7 summit without Trump

2025-06-17 08:42:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

US President Trump has left the G7 summit in Canada. In a joint statement on the conflict between Israel and Iran, Iran is seen as "the main source of regional instability and terror."

Breaking news from the G7 summit in Canada: US President Donald Trump leaves the G7 summit early and flies back to Washington: "I need to get back as soon as possible," Trump said.

The war in the Middle East, which overshadowed the G7 summit, caused even the most important politician at this summit to leave after only one day of the summit, after a family photo and dinner. "I would love to stay until tomorrow, but you all understand. Big things are happening now," says Trump. Big things - "Big things."

Trump urges Tehran residents to evacuate

Earlier, Trump had called on all residents of Tehran on his Truth Social platform to leave the city. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth simultaneously announced the deployment of additional "military capabilities" to the region. The G7 summit is witnessing further escalation in the Middle East. However, everything had started harmoniously on Monday morning: mountainous landscapes, rushing waters and Canadian host Mark Carney welcoming the German Chancellor.

No one could have imagined that things would take a different turn thanks to Trump: "Your Excellency, Friedrich Merz," was how a spokeswoman introduced the chancellor. Beautiful photos, handshakes. Carney knows that Merz is a politician suited to holding summits. With Trump, things get complicated.

Approaching President Trump

And then there's the Trump show. I've always said it was a mistake to exclude Russia from the G8, according to Trump. But former US President Barack Obama and "a guy named Trudeau" did it at the time. Carney sits back and doesn't object. Justin Trudeau, his predecessor as Canadian prime minister, wasn't even in office in 2014. But that doesn't seem to matter. An attempt to reach out to Trump from the start of the first working session. Nostalgia is not a strategy, says Carney; change is important. "Some, you, for example, Mr. President, understood this early and acted boldly." Trump seems to like that.

Breaking news: Trump leaves the summit early. His spokeswoman says he needs to deal with "important issues in the Middle East." Israel needs the US, not the G7. "And Iran is not going to win. Look at this," Trump says as he stands next to Britain's Keir Starmer. The Iranians must negotiate before it's too late. Starmer stands idly by, but bravely continues to talk about reducing tensions: "There is a consensus that we need to reduce tensions." French President Emmanuel Macron offers Trump his support for a Middle East initiative. He still doesn't know anything about Trump's early departure.

Trump doesn't need others. His message to Iran is clear: There will be a deal. "Iran would be foolish not to sign it," he said.

Surprisingly, the heads of state and government - including Trump - agreed to a joint statement on the conflict between Israel and Iran. The text, published by host Canada, describes Iran as "the main source of regional instability and terror" and emphasizes Israel's right to self-defense.

Trump's departure disrupts summit

The early departure throws the entire summit into disarray. “We are gathering here at a turning point in history,” Carney said the morning of the summit. Little did he know that the war in the Middle East and the US president would turn Canada’s carefully prepared summit plans into plans that didn’t work. Still, Carney expressed understanding: “I thank President Trump for being here.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting for the summit on Tuesday (June 17). He was originally scheduled to discuss Ukraine with Trump. India's Narendra Modi was approaching Canada when news of Trump's departure broke.

The global situation has now changed again. The Middle East requires the commitment of the US president. The dispute over tariffs, even the war in Ukraine - on this day, everything else seems to be taking a back seat./ DW