The G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains begins under difficult circumstances. French President Emmanuel Macron must act as host, crisis manager and Trump diplomat all at once. Ukraine, Iran, China, artificial intelligence and global economic imbalances are on the agenda — but the success of the meeting may depend above all on whether Donald Trump stays at the table.
The G7 summit in France begins with a particular challenge: host Emmanuel Macron must not only moderate an overcrowded crisis agenda, but above all keep Donald Trump engaged. The US president is seen as the decisive yet unpredictable factor at the meeting in Évian-les-Bains.
Even before the summit began, it became clear how strongly the event is being shaped around Trump. The meeting was postponed by 1 day because Trump’s 80th birthday and the celebrations in Washington took precedence. Macron also invited the US president to a dinner at the Palace of Versailles. The message is clear: Paris wants to prevent a repeat of last year’s debacle, when Trump left the G7 summit in Canada early.
For Europe, much is at stake. The G7 countries must discuss wars, trade, raw materials, debt, artificial intelligence and global economic imbalances. But hardly any of these issues can be addressed effectively without the United States. That is why the summit also becomes a test of how much collective Western capacity for action remains under Trump.
Macron seeks unity in a fragile group
Officially, global imbalances are at the center of the G7 summit. France wants to discuss China’s trade surplus, Europe’s investment gap, the supply of critical raw materials and the US debt situation. Behind all this lies a larger question: how can the global economy be stabilized when the leading industrial nations themselves are drifting further apart?
Macron wants to find a common line against economic distortions without triggering new escalations. That is difficult. For Europe, China is at once competitor, sales market and supplier. Under Trump, the United States is taking a much harder line and relying more heavily on pressure, tariffs and national interests. Europe, meanwhile, appears economically weakened and politically divided.
This makes France’s role particularly challenging. Macron must mediate, moderate and at the same time make European interests visible. He needs Trump, but he cannot become fully dependent on him. That is the diplomatic tightrope of this summit.
Ukraine and Iran overshadow the agenda
The wars against Ukraine and Iran are also at the center of the talks. Europeans hope to persuade Trump to restart negotiations with Russia without forcing Ukraine into excessive concessions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to join the meeting on Tuesday.
For Europe, this is crucial. If Washington reduces pressure on Russia or pushes for a solution at Kyiv’s expense, the European security order would again come under massive strain. Germany, France and the United Kingdom therefore want to demonstrate unity, even though their own domestic political positions are weak.
At the same time, the Iran conflict remains a key risk. The situation in the Persian Gulf and the security of the Strait of Hormuz are of enormous importance for energy prices, inflation and global trade. France, Germany and the United Kingdom are prepared to help secure the strait once the political conditions are in place.
AI moves onto the big political stage
Alongside classic geopolitical conflicts, artificial intelligence also plays an important role. Macron is seeking an agreement on AI governance and the protection of children in the digital sphere. Leading technology representatives are also expected, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Mistral AI CEO Arthur Mensch.
This shows how much the G7 agenda has changed. AI is no longer just a technology or business issue. It affects security, education, labor markets, democracy, digital dependencies and the protection of minors. At the same time, a common line is difficult because the United States, Europe and Japan have different regulatory interests.
For Europe, the issue is particularly sensitive. The continent wants to strengthen its own digital sovereignty, but remains dependent on the United States for many AI platforms, chips and cloud systems. The Évian summit could therefore also show whether Europe merely regulates AI or actually helps shape it strategically.
Climate policy moves into the background
What is striking is what is not at the center this time: climate policy. While earlier G7 summits were often strongly shaped by climate, emissions and the energy transition, the issue plays a much smaller role in Évian. The reason appears to be a lack of consensus within the group.
That is a political signal. At a time of high energy prices, geopolitical crises and economic weakness, climate policy is visibly losing priority among the leading industrial nations. For Europe, this is uncomfortable because it continues to pursue transformation while receiving less international momentum.
At the same time, this shows how much the agenda is being shifted by acute crises. Ukraine, Iran, China, AI and economic stability are pushing the long-term climate question into the background. That does not make it less important, but it makes it harder to enforce politically.
A summit under a dark cloud
The G7 summit is therefore under exceptional pressure. Macron, Merz and Starmer are seen as weakened domestically. Transatlantic relations are strained. Under Trump, the United States is pursuing a much more idiosyncratic course. And the other G7 countries no longer speak with one voice as naturally as they once did.
Even a joint final communiqué would therefore be a signal. But more important will be whether Europeans can formulate a common position on Russia, China and AI regulation. If they cannot even manage that, the summit will mainly show 1 thing: the West still meets, but it no longer leads as a united bloc.
For Macron, Évian is therefore more than a diplomatic meeting. It is an attempt to hold together a fragile order — with a US president whom Europe both needs and fears.
SK
