Trump Arrives at G7 Countries With Iran Deal and Ukraine Push
Donald Trump arrived in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Monday for the G7 countries summit after touting a preliminary Iran deal and saying he would now focus on Ukraine and Lebanon. He met French President Emmanuel Macron soon after arriving, setting up a week in which the summit host and other leaders must absorb Trump’s latest diplomatic claims.
Trump and Macron in Evian-les-Bains
Trump told Macron, "I think a lot of great things are going to happen in the Middle East right now, and very importantly the oil (price) is plummeting down and the stock market is shooting up like a rocket today." He also said, "The Iran deal that we made is going to bring a lot of success to the world."
Trump described the agreement as a step toward peace in the Middle East and beyond. He said he would seek to end hostilities in Ukraine and Lebanon next, making the summit’s diplomatic lane broader than the Iran announcement alone.
Ukraine, Lebanon, and the G7 agenda
Trump said, "We had a very good conversation yesterday with President [Volodomy] Zelenskyy and President [Vladimir] Putin, and I think maybe we can do something there. I really do. I think they’re both open to it," while a Ukrainian official familiar with the matter said Zelenskyy had offered to meet Putin with Trump and European leaders at the G7, but the Kremlin did not reply. Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, and France would be obliged as an ICC member to arrest Putin.
The summit also brings together leaders who have clashed with Trump over tariffs, NATO, immigration and military support. France, Britain and Germany are understood to have offered to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, and Trump said, "I don’t think we’re gonna need much help" because the strait is "going to be open."
Rare earths and economic imbalances
G7 leaders will also seek common ground on global economic imbalances and AI, while discussing China’s dominance and control of the market for rare earth minerals. Trump added, "But I don’t think it’s a bad idea to have a ship or two up here from a few countries. You’d be a great country to do it," in his exchange with Macron about the Strait of Hormuz.
The summit ends on Wednesday, and the open issue is whether Trump’s Iran announcement can translate into any shared position on Ukraine, Lebanon, and the maritime security questions now sitting in front of the G7 countries in France.
