11 hours agoShareSaveJessica MurphyBBC News, Banff, AlbertaShareSaveCanada’s G7 summit, under first-time host Mark Carney, had a carefully planned agenda. That programme was upended by the unfolding war between Israel and Iran and US President Donald Trump’s early departure.Still, Carney said on Tuesday that this summit “can begin a new era of co-operation that promotes long-term resilience over short-term efficiency”.Here are five takeaways from the dramatic G7 in Kananaskis, Alberta. Trump’s sudden exitThe G7 nations – Italy, the US, France, Germany, the UK, Canada and Japan – were one leader short on Tuesday following Trump’s surprise decision to abandon the summit early and return to Washington DC. Participants put a positive spin on the abrupt departure. Prime Minister Carney said he fully understood the president’s decision, while French President Emmanuel Macron called one reporter’s question about whether the group was now a de facto G6 “disrespectful”. Trump said he left because of the rapidly unfolding events between Israel and Iran.The White House insisted the president had had a “great day” in Alberta and achieved much during the trip. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stayed behind to represent the US. Trump’s departure was not necessarily a bad thing, said Denisse Rudich, director of the G7 Research Group London. While he was there, it appeared that everyone was “on eggshells” with leaders smiling, but wary that “you don’t quite know what is going to shift”.They were more relaxed the next day, she said. “It didn’t look forced. It looked a lot more natural.”Still, it meant Trump missed planned bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum (though he spoke with her later by phone, the White House said.)Israel-Iran war sidelines agendaBy Tuesday, much of the world’s attention had shifted from the resort in Canada’s Rocky Mountains to the unfolding conflict in the Middle East and uncertainty as to the potential course of action by the US. The conflict also overshadowed much of the first day of the summit as G7 leaders sought consensus on their response to tensions in the region. BBC NewsEventually, all seven, the US, too, released a communique urging a “de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza” – though it stopped short of calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Trump later accused the French president of “publicity seeking” with his suggestion that the US was working towards a ceasefire.On Tuesday, Macron said it was Trump who was discussing that option.”I am not responsible for the changes of mind of the US administration,” he said.Despite that back and forth, the statement was a show of unity. Ukraine, India and diplomacyOn Ukraine, Zelensky will leave this summit with new aid from Canada but notably no joint statement of support.There were reports that Canada had dropped plans for a strong statement in the war over US re …
