Trump Cuts G7 Summit Short Amid Rising Middle East Tensions

At the “G7” summit in Canada, there was a dramatic turn of events that saw former President Donald Trump announcing he would be leaving early to return to the White House and directly follow the conflict between Israel and Iran. The meeting of global leaders quickly took a back seat as Trump highlighted his concerns regarding the Middle Eastern episode.

Addressing the journalists in the beautiful Canadian Rockies, Trump was unequivocal about the increasingly fast-moving and at the same time dangerous engagement-of-arms vividly happening in Tehran and Jerusalem. “I must be back as fast as I can,” he repeated without explaining it in detail. The White House confirmed that the abrupt departure was caused by “the situation in the Middle East,” at a later time.

The tension was already very high before the meeting, but Trump’s shocking release on social media only made the situation worse. The message “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” he wrote, to the surprise of an alarmed world, had raised eyebrows and anxiety worldwide.

However, Trump was busy with the arrangements behind the curtain, where he had his representatives consisting of Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who were to undertake the task of direct communication with Iranian officials as quickly as possible. The mission in the mind of the Chief? The probability of a peace agreement, and who knows, maybe the first steps in resuming a nuclear deal. Iran, according to Trump, could be already at the stage of an open dialogue, thereby getting a step closer to solving the crisis that is the Middle East conflict.

On the sidelines of the G7 meeting, Trump was clear about Iran being “the chief factor in the whole of destabilization” in the area. At first, though, Trump was not that eager to sign a joint statement with the rest of the G7 nations, which called for de-escalation. However, eventually, as the wording was modified to reflect his views, namely reiterating that Israel should be able to protect itself and stressing that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, Trump did give his nod to the statement.

However, the president did not exclude the possibility of more aggressive acts either. While persisting that US forces were in a defensive position, he still did not exclude the future involvement depending on the dynamics. “I don’t want to talk about that,” he said when asked about the potential for U.S. military intervention.

In the meantime, national security officials in DC have started to gather and prepare for Trump’s return and any decision that may follow. General Dan Caine, the Joint Chiefs Chairman, was photographed going into the West Wing, and the Situation Room is said to be getting ready for briefings.

Trump’s participation in G7 was notable for re-phasing old problems with the allies. The discussion with Euopran leaders over their position on Iran was heated up, and even Trump referred to Russia’s rejection from the group, blaming former President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau. Trump said that the absence of Putin from the table could have been one of the reasons that triggered the global conflict like the one we are facing now.

The issue of Russia playing a role in solving the problem the discussion of whether to involve Russia in the crisis at all still remains a contentious topic. French President Emmanuel Macron made it clear he was against giving Moscow any rights, taking into account its ongoing war in Ukraine.

As the Israel-Iran conflict begins its fifth consecutive day, the focus of the world is now on Washington. Are Trump’s endeavours compliance with a new diplomacy venture, or the region is likely to become a battlefield of a wider war?