Trump to attend G7 in France as rift with allies deepens

Trump's first face-to-face with several G7 leaders since Iran conflict escalated

BY ARUN JAYAN

PUBLISHED MAY 20, 2026

President Donald Trump speaks to the media with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, on June 16, 2025 (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump will attend the upcoming G7 summit in France next month, setting the stage for high-stakes talks with key Western allies amid mounting tensions over the Iran war.

A White House official confirmed Trump’s participation in the summit, which is scheduled to take place from June 15 to 17 at Evian-les-Bains in the French Alps.

The Group of Seven includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.

Cargo ships, including bulk carriers and general cargo vessels, sit at anchor offshore as a small motorboat passes in the foreground, in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday, May 4 , 2026.(Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP) — Cargo ships, including bulk carriers and general cargo vessels, sit at anchor offshore as a small motorboat passes in the foreground, in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday, May 4, 2026 (Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP)

Diplomatic tensions shadow G7 summit

The summit is expected to be dominated by discussions surrounding the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the security situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route.

Trump has repeatedly criticized allied nations for what he described as inadequate support for Washington’s military and strategic efforts in the region.

The meeting will mark Trump’s first in-person interaction with many G7 leaders since the Iran conflict erupted earlier this year, adding significance to the gathering at a time of strained diplomatic relations.

U.S. President Donald Trump greets France's President Emmanuel Macron during a summit of European and Middle Eastern leaders on October 13, 2025 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. President Trump is in Egypt to meet with European and Middle Eastern leaders in what’s being billed as an international peace summit, following the start of a US-brokered ceasefire deal to end the war in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Evan Vucci - Pool/Getty Images) — Trump greets France's President Emmanuel Macron during a summit of European and Middle Eastern leaders on October 13, 2025, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt (Evan Vucci - Pool/Getty Images)

Trump targets traditional allies, including France

In recent months, Trump has openly attacked several allied governments, particularly France and the United Kingdom, accusing them of failing to contribute meaningfully to regional security efforts.

In March, Trump used Truth Social to criticize France as “very unhelpful” while also lashing out at Britain in a separate post, telling the UK to “get your own jet fuel” and warning that the United States would not always come to its assistance in the future.

Despite Trump’s criticism, France and the UK have jointly backed efforts to stabilize the Strait of Hormuz through their own coalition focused on maritime security and protecting commercial shipping routes in the region.

The president has also been engaged in public disagreements with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who recently called on the world’s “middle powers” to work together in response to dominant global powers such as the United States and China.

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Oval Office at the White House on April 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. Leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, Meloni is in Washington to discuss a range of bilateral issues, negotiate the 20 percent “reciprocal” tariff Trump imposed on European imports to the U.S. and to discuss pharmaceutical imports. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) — Trump meets with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Oval Office at the White House on April 17, 2025, in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Broader disagreements emerge within G7

Trump’s strained relations within the G7 extend beyond security and defense matters. He has also clashed with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after criticizing Pope Leo XIV, triggering fresh tensions with the Italian leadership ahead of the summit.

Analysts expect the gathering in France to test the unity of the G7 at a time when global conflicts, trade disputes and geopolitical rivalries are increasingly challenging Western coordination.

While the summit traditionally focuses on economic cooperation and collective security, this year’s meeting is likely to be shaped heavily by disagreements over Iran and Trump’s confrontational approach toward long-standing allies.