By Sazzad Haider
The 51st summit of the G-7 alliance, recognized as the assembly of the world’s wealthiest nations, will take place in Kananaskis City, Alberta, Canada, from June 15 to 17.
Most of the leaders from the participating nations will be attending this summit for the first time. Among them, The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. US President Donald Trump will also be present at this summit for the first time since commencing his second term.
France President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also will attend the summit. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend as representatives.
The G7 leaders are likely to discuss a range of pressing topics, such as Africa, climate change, and development, the prevailing situation in the Middle East, Russia’s assertive maneuvers in Ukraine, migration, the Indo-Pacific area, economic security, artificial intelligence, energy, along with issues related to Africa and the Mediterranean region.
Historically, leaders at previous G-7 summits have refrained from any form of duality or overt opposition towards one another. However, this G-7 summit in Alberta is occurring under rather unusual circumstances.
Now the relations between the United States and its European allies are reportedly the most strained since World War II. Additionally, President Trump has fostered a contentious relationship with Canada, the host of the 51st G-7 summit, which is unusual in the historical context of U.S.-Canada relations. This deterioration began when Trump initiated a tariff conflict against Canada, and tensions escalated further when he expressed interest in purchasing Canadian provinces.
The Canada-US relationship in 2025 is undergoing significant changes due to trade tensions, border policies, and shifting political landscapes. While both nations have historically enjoyed a strong partnership characterized by shared geography and economic ties, recent developments are testing this alliance. The relationship has been described as being under strain, with both countries navigating economic pressures and global challenges. Despite these challenges, the two nations continue to maintain a key economic, military, and security partnership.
In a post to social media, Trump writes that the only way to “make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear” is “for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State.”
He contends that such annexation would lower taxes for Canadians, enhance their military defenses, and strengthen border security. Trump’s persistent advocacy for Canada to become the fifty-first state—an idea he proposed even prior to his inauguration in January—resonates with other territorial ambitions he has expressed at the beginning of his second term, such as the acquisition of Greenland and the reclamation of the Panama Canal. Additionally, he has expressed a desire to renegotiate the 1908 treaty that defines the U.S.-Canada border, stating that ‘the artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally vanish.’ Trump’s rhetoric regarding annexation, coupled with his threats concerning tariffs, has incited backlash in Canada, prompting numerous businesses to boycott American products.
Since Trump’s second inauguration in January, Europe has experienced a tumultuous journey characterized by shifting policies ranging from Gaza to Greenland, and from Ukraine to a trade conflict.
The speech delivered by U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference in February 2025 represented a pivotal moment in the evolution of German strategic thought. For Berlin, Vance’s address crystallized apprehensions regarding the ideological aspirations of significant players in Washington, thereby questioning the fundamental principles of transatlantic unity. Vance accused European governments of stifling free expression and asserted that internal challenges, such as EU immigration and purported censorship policies, posed more significant threats to democracy than external adversaries like Russia or China. The defense of the European political framework, along with the commitment to the EU as a project of peace and democracy rather than merely a market, is integral to the identity of many within the German political establishment. Furthermore, Vance’s public criticism of the exclusion of populist parties—specifically mentioning Germany’s far-right AfD—and his subsequent private meeting with AfD leader Alice Weidel were widely interpreted in Berlin as a violation of sovereignty and an intrusion into German domestic affairs.
The forthcoming G-8 summit features a clearly outlined agenda that includes topics such as climate change and development, the current circumstances in the Middle East, Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine, migration, Indo-Pacific and economic security, artificial intelligence and energy, as well as issues concerning Africa and the Mediterranean region. It remains uncertain how Trump will approach fostering positive relations with his European allies and Canada.
It is difficult to foresee Trump’s actions. During this summit, he might request Canada to merge with the United States or reconsider his earlier stance by factoring in Canada’s response to the tariffs. He could propose the dissolution of NATO or urge NATO to procure additional arms from the United States. Furthermore, he may even solicit European allies’ assistance in acquiring Greenland. Therefore, the possibility of something very dramatic happening at the upcoming G-8 summit is not ruled out.
