The pure air from Canada’s Rocky Mountains clears the mind. It will need to.
Kananaskis (population around 130) finds itself momentarily as the world’s diplo-center, hosting challenging diplomacy.
If this is not a crisis meeting, it is a gathering in the midst of a crisis. The confrontation between Israel and Iran is at the forefront of the G7 agenda, and important parties have gathered here to discuss de-escalation.
If they begin speaking with a single voice, don’t expect a single plan at the end.
The G7, starring Donald Trump, is a different movie; this isn’t necessarily a gathering based on shared understanding and similar goal, as has traditionally defined the annual team conference of the world’s top democracies.
An aggressive US president will schmooze leaders he’s screwing on trade, undercutting defense interests, and overall keeping at a distance.
The special visitors are Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, both of whom have had the Oval Office hair dryer treatment.
Reaching a single Middle East approach will be challenging in the short term, as well as in the long run.
Trump is a man with a different vision for the area, and without a shared understanding of the objective, things are tough from the start. The same applies to Ukraine.
At this event, the focus will be on Donald. The center of gravity will revolve on their US invitee, reflecting the larger image of a globe grappling with Trump and determining its response appropriately.
