Another Group of Seven summit, another hasty exit from Donald Trump.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney can take some comfort that this departure was more courteous than before: The US president didn’t back out from the communique and lace into a verbal attack on his host like he did back in 2018 with Justin Trudeau.
But it was arguably more significant and damaging in the long run.
Trump said he had “big stuff” to return to in Washington. That would be the war between Israel and Iran that threatens to engulf the Middle East and which has had the US, until now, in wait-and-see mode.
Israel wants the US to help strike at Iranian nuclear sites buried deep underground. So far, the president has sent mixed signals about whether the world’s most powerful military will get involved.
Analysts say the US alone has the bunker-busting bombs necessary to deal the decisive blows, but any such action would fly against MAGA messaging of avoiding messy conflicts overseas.
That’s apart from the fact that US engagement would add a whole new dimension to the war — and past attempts at regional regime change have ended in bloody attrition.
The G-7 was once where the US would discuss such matters with like-minded allies. But there’s no papering over Trump’s contempt for the forum: in a parting shot, he rebuked “publicity-seeking” French President Emmanuel Macron for the temerity of saying he left the summit to seek an Israel-Iran ceasefire.
Western allies appear to have little insight into US plans. Instead, Vladimir Putin may be the only leader to have talked at length with Trump, after calling him on his birthday on Saturday. In Canada, Trump again bemoaned Russia’s banishment from the old G-8.
None of which bodes well for next week’s NATO gathering, another summit Trump may decide isn’t worth much of his time. — Flavia Krause-Jackson