G7 summit opens in Evian as Macron seeks unity with Trump amid geopolitical crises

A diplomatic high-wire act

France hosts the three-day summit from 15 to 17 June, delayed from its original date to accommodate Donald Trump's 80th-birthday MMA tournament in Washington on 14 June. The White House confirmed his attendance, ending speculation that he might skip the gathering. For President Macron, who chaired the G7 in 2019 at Biarritz and is now in his final term, the stakes are personal: the Élysée is keen to avoid a repeat of the 2018 summit, when Trump withdrew his support from the final communiqué, and the 2025 meeting in Kananaskis, where the US president left early and publicly mocked Macron's ceasefire diplomacy.

The Élysée has already tried to frame expectations.

This G7 is already a success.

The remark is a pre-emptive cushion against potential friction on "crisis topics," as one official put it.

The agenda: wars, economics and tech regulation

Beyond the ceremonial photo-ops, the leaders of Germany, Canada, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan will confront two armed conflicts that have reshaped global alliances: the war in Ukraine and the renewed hostilities in the Middle East. Paris also wants to advance talks on reducing global macroeconomic imbalances, protecting minors online, fighting cancer, and promoting solidarity investments.

Trump and Macron's fraught history

At the 2025 Kananaskis summit, Trump left abruptly as the Israel-Iran conflict intensified. He later taunted Macron on Truth Social:

He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a ceasefire... Whether intentional or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong.

European diplomats hope the president's mood will be lighter after his birthday event, allowing real negotiation.

Security on Lake Geneva

Some 14,000 police officers and gendarmes have been deployed to seal off the town of 9,200 inhabitants, where even the baccalauréat exams have been moved to alternative venues. The security cordon reflects the volatile geopolitical backdrop.

1. 2018Trump withdraws support for final G7 communiqué, breaking with allies.
2. 2025Trump leaves Kananaskis G7 early; posts on Truth Social mocking Macron’s ceasefire proposal.
3. Jun 14, 2026Trump hosts birthday MMA tournament in Washington, delaying the G7 start.
4. Jun 15, 2026G7 summit opens in Evian under tight security, with Ukraine and Middle East wars top of the agenda.