How Will the G7 Act, All Hinging on Trump’s Mood?
The G7 Summit kicked off on the 15th in Evian, nestled at the foot of the French Alps. What President Trump’s intentions are for this summit remain largely unknown—except for one crucial point: Trump will proceed according to his own schedule and mood.
Analysts suggest his mood will largely depend on the outcome of the accelerating U.S.-Iran peace talks.
Almost all G7 members have suffered from Trump’s trade strikes and diplomatic intimidation. The leaders gathering by Lake Geneva have nearly all come under his criticism—except for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Kōchi, who is the sole exception.
Lianna Fix, a guest researcher at the Council on Foreign Relations, told AFP ahead of the summit: "People can no longer 'manage' Trump as they did during his first term."
To accommodate Trump, France deliberately shifted the summit date to Monday, avoiding a clash with a mixed martial arts (MMA) event scheduled for Sunday at the White House—and Sunday also happens to be Trump’s 80th birthday.
Although dissatisfaction with Trump among Americans is rising, and the November midterm elections could potentially strip Trump of control over Congress; although the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected his sweeping tariff measures—none of this is likely to curb Trump’s assertiveness.
Lianna Fix summarized it thus: Dealing with Trump, "Europeans have learned to [hope for the best, prepare for the worst]."
Jackson Jones, an expert at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, told AFP: "I don’t think we’ll see a weak president. I believe he will act as usual—attempting to push forward on extremely complex issues."
Viktor Cha, an expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted in a press briefing that Trump "claims to dislike multilateral meetings," but "he cannot tolerate world leaders gathering without inviting him."
To create a welcoming atmosphere, French President Macron even persuaded Trump to stay on after the Wednesday summit for dinner at the opulent Palace of Versailles—a setting sure to appeal to the billionaire’s taste for grandeur.
The Elysee Palace stated that the dinner aims to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, with Versailles chosen as the venue because it is "a holy site of Franco-American friendship"—where the Treaty of Paris, which formally recognized American independence in 1783, was signed.
Some analysts point out that aside from the unpredictable emotional fluctuations of the U.S. president, the agenda items proposed by Paris align closely with some of his key concerns.
A senior U.S. official described France’s inclusion of trade imbalances in the summit agenda as "very wise" and "on point."
Trump previously harshly criticized America’s allies for failing to support U.S. efforts on Iran. He is expected to use this visit to France to discuss certain allies—including France and Britain—participating in mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz. He will also meet with leaders from Qatar, the UAE, and Egypt in Evian.
Although the relationship landscape between this Republican leader and traditional U.S. allies hasn’t undergone dramatic changes since last year, there has been a shift in power dynamics regarding Ukraine.
Max Bergman, an expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told reporters: "In 2025, Europeans had to bow to Trump" in attempts to maintain U.S. support for Kyiv—but "now the situation is different; Ukraine’s dependence on the U.S. has decreased."
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy undoubtedly understands better than anyone how easily a meeting with Trump could spiral out of control—but he will still attend the G7 leaders’ working session on Tuesday, alongside the U.S. president.
A senior U.S. official did not rule out the possibility of a brief informal encounter between the two leaders during the summit, while emphasizing that no formal bilateral talks have been scheduled.
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1867926784661641/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of its author