Trump to attend Group of Seven meetings in France in June
by Tom Howell Jr. · The Washington TimesPresident Trump plans to attend the Group of Seven summit in France in June, a consequential meeting given the backdrop of the war in Iran and the president’s recent bickering with allies.
Mr. Trump will attend meetings in the Alps town of Evian-les-Bains from June 15 to June 17, according to a White House official.
Besides the U.S. and France, the G7 includes Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.
The meetings could get tense. Leaders of G7 countries say they were caught off guard by Mr. Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran on Feb. 28. They have grumbled about the resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz and high energy prices.
Mr. Trump said he is working to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, a goal that G7 allies share, and that European allies are falling short by failing to help the U.S. effort.
The president says other nations rely on oil from the Strait of Hormuz more than the U.S. does, so they should step up. Other times, he has said the Americans don’t need any help in resolving the Middle East conflict.
Mr. Trump recently sparred with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over his criticism of Pope Leo XIV, and he bickered with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over control of air force bases that could be useful to the Iran campaign.
Further, the president has criticized European leaders’ approach to immigration and crime, saying they risk losing their national character.
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Efforts to resolve the Russian invasion of Ukraine will likely feature in the meetings, alongside a set of goals outlined by the White House. Per an administration official, they include:
• Reframing the conversation around development to focus on investment partnerships that are mutually beneficial for both investor and recipient nations.
• Promoting innovation and the adoption of artificial intelligence technology.
• Boosting critical mineral supply chain resilience to promote economic security.
• Working with G7 partners to strengthen responses to illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
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• Promoting U.S. exports and championing global growth through regulatory streamlining and energy abundance.
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Tom Howell Jr.
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