Carney heads to Europe for G7 summit as U.S. and Israel-Iran war escalates

One year after hosting the G7 summit in Alberta, Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to rejoin world leaders — including U.S. President Donald Trump — for their first meeting since the start of the U.S.-Israeli offensive in Iran.

Carney will attend the G7 leaders’ summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, from June 15 to 17.

It’s part of a larger trip to Europe — Carney’s ninth visit to the continent since being elected prime minister — that will also see him meeting leaders in France and Ireland. He departs on Thursday evening.

Canadian officials say the government’s priorities at the G7 include finding consensus on following up on a critical minerals action plan established at last year’s summit, global macroeconomic imbalances and on international development, as many donor countries look to curtail support.

Canada is also interested in putting safeguards on artificial intelligence. Last week, Carney told reporters that developing safety standards to protect children’s information from exploitation is a priority for him at the G7.

“There is very strong interest in like-minded countries sharing infrastructure … there is very strong interest in co-ordinating,” said Carney on June 4.

“This will be part of what is discussed at the G7.”

But all of that risks being overshadowed by Trump, who is planning to attend the G7 during a volatile time between the U.S. and Iran. On Wednesday, the U.S. launched a fresh wave of airstrikes.

The conflict has created a global energy crisis affecting all G7 countries, accelerated inflation and contributed to a reshuffling of the world’s security landscape.

Trump is also set to clash with other world leaders over AI, social media and regulation. While countries like France and Canada look to curtail potential online harms, Trump is set to promote the adoption of U.S.-developed artificial intelligence tools.

“You have one partner, the biggest partner, who is causing a lot of grief and anxiety to his fellow G7 partners who sit around that table,” said Fen Osler Hampson, professor of international affairs at Carleton University.

“Right now it’s a G6 in all but name.”

Leaders are expected to forgo issuing a joint communiqué at the end of the summit. Canadian officials speaking to reporters on background said to instead expect standalone statements from leaders on specific topics.

“The problem with a communiqué is that it becomes a focal point for differences because you really have to agree on what comes out of it,” said Hampson. “Donald Trump is very hard to get agreement on the sorts of things that matter to his G7 partners.”

It’s not clear yet whether Carney will have a bilateral talk with Trump. If it happens, it will take place days after the U.S. president threatened not to renew the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement.

Trump has also been fiercely critical of NATO allies for their reluctance to support the U.S.-Israeli campaign in Iran. Six of the seven G7 countries are members of NATO.

Part of the summit is expected to include efforts to get Trump’s approval for a Europe-led plan to demine the Strait of Hormuz, something Canada has said it could support.

9th trip to Europe, 1st to Ireland

Ahead of the summit, Carney is expected to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where Canadian officials said he will be passing the torch of the G7 presidency. The two leaders are also expected to talk about AI, days after Canada introduced plans to legislate online child safety.

France has said it wanted to put together a “common protection framework” for children online.

They’re also expected to discuss trade, defence, quantum technologies and critical minerals.

And Carney will travel to Dublin, where he’s expected to meet with the Taoiseach of Ireland, Micheál Martin, and then to County Mayo — which holds personal significance for the prime minister.

His grandparents were born in the western region of Ireland before immigrating to Canada in 1925. Carney held Irish citizenship before renouncing it to run for prime minister.

The Mayo leg of the trip has already garnered the attention of Irish media, with a local outlet saying “excitement has been building for weeks to welcome home arguably Aughagower’s most famous son.”

Carney will meet the president of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, in Mayo.

In April, the Taoiseach had to cancel plans to travel to Canada because of ongoing fuel protests in Ireland.

The Canadian government is hopeful there are opportunities to expand ties across agri-food, digital innovation, AI and pharmaceuticals.

“The relationship between Canada and Ireland has always been strong. It has never been stronger than it is now,” said James Maloney, Liberal MP and president of the Canada-Ireland Interparliamentary Group.

“Ireland is the English-speaking gateway to Europe, and our relationship with Europe is incredibly important.”