President Donald Trump returned to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday morning after attending a state dinner on Monday evening. During the event, he made formal ties with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and built rapport with other world leaders during the G7 summit in Canada. These discussions spanned a huge range of issues, such as new trade agreements with Canada. They opened up about the worsening war in the Middle East, revealing the intricacies of global affairs.
Most notably, he set out early that tariffs would be a critical piece of any negotiations. He noted, “A trade deal with Canada is possible, but tariffs are staying on the table.” His comments illustrate some of the considerable political backlash trade policies and economic partnerships have received from recent U.S. administrations towards their northern neighbor.
Trump further expressed his opinion that Iran would be willing to negotiate in order to de-escalate its war with Israel. He called on all parties to “discuss right now” to lower tensions. Most importantly, he connected the growing crisis directly to U.S. leverage over the region.
Middle East Tensions and Diplomatic Efforts
Each of his meetings, Trump focused on the conflict between Israel and Iran. Most importantly, he reiterated that a swift resolution is doable. This assumption is dependent on Iran making significant concessions to U.S. demands for tough constraints on its nuclear program. “They have to make a deal and it’s painful for both parties, but I’d say Iran is not winning this war,” Trump stated.
“Against the backdrop of rising escalations, the President underscored the need for discussion just this past week. “They should talk and they should talk immediately before it’s too late,” he remarked, suggesting that immediate actions might prevent further conflict.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has echoed sentiments regarding the importance of communication, stating, “That may pave the way for a return to diplomacy.” The Iranian official pointed out that it takes just one call from Washington to influence figures like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who himself acknowledged that “No wonder Iranians want to end the war, they are being hit.”
Trump’s refusal even to discuss a possible military role deepens his reticence. When pressed on what it would take for U.S. military action, he simply replied, “I don’t want to talk about that anymore.”
Trade Talks and Tariffs
In addition to addressing Middle Eastern tensions, Trump’s bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney focused on trade relations. Next up on the agenda was tariffs, which have been a major source of irritation in U.S.-Canada relations. While rejoicing at the prospect for a deal, many still pointed to Trump’s declaration that tariffs would stay–in full or in part.
The President’s rhetoric is indicative of a larger goal. Tariffs are used as a bargaining chip in the game of foreign trade poker. His approach has received a lot of praise and criticism from all interested stakeholders on both sides of the pond.
Trump similarly bemoaned Russia’s ousting from the G7 summit, claiming at one point that the, “G7 was the G8.” He recommended that bringing Russia into the negotiations would facilitate better communication about conflicts all over the world. This is particularly the case for complicated scenarios such as that in the Middle East. “I think you wouldn’t have a war right now if you had Russia in,” he asserted.
