Trump’s G7 Middle East meetings are set to take center stage at next week’s summit in France, a clear signal of how heavily the war in Iran continues to weigh on global affairs even as European allies struggle with its economic fallout. President Donald Trump will use the gathering to hold a series of one-on-one talks aimed largely at winding down the conflict and reopening a critical shipping route.

A Packed Schedule of Bilateral Talks

According to senior administration officials who briefed reporters anonymously, Trump will hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of France, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and India.

Notably, India and the Middle Eastern nations are not members of the G7 but were invited to participate. The lineup reflects where Trump’s attention is focused, with the Middle Eastern leaders expected to discuss efforts to end the Iran war and plans to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz.

The summit itself will take place at Évian-les-Bains from June 15 to 17, marking the second time the French resort town has hosted such a gathering.

The Iran Deal Looming Over Everything

The most consequential development hanging over the summit is a potential breakthrough with Iran. The US and Iran are reportedly closing in on an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which officials suggested could be signed as early as Sunday on the sidelines of the summit.

Trump administration officials projected confidence, with one saying they believe they have a strong deal and noting there are many actions other G7 nations could take once the agreement moves forward. The emerging framework, as described by officials, would have Iran reopen the strait, followed by coordinated demining operations involving US and allied naval forces.

Britain and France, both G7 members, have signaled interest in assisting with the demining once the fighting pauses, and officials pointed out that both already have naval assets in the region that could take part. As one official put it, the US has the capacity to carry out such operations.

A Summit Shadowed by Tension

The diplomatic warmth of these meetings belies a backdrop of significant strain between the US and many of its closest partners. The war delivered a severe global energy shock when Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for oil and gas shipments.

The consequences rippled outward:

• Financial markets were roiled by the disruption.
• Gasoline prices spiked sharply.
• Fears mounted about the impact on global economic growth.

Trump has not been shy about his frustrations. He has lashed out at European allies for not doing more to help reopen the strait, and has even again floated the prospect of the US exiting NATO. When asked about concerns that Washington might pull back on defense commitments in Europe, including reducing aircraft and warships, officials said they were pleased with some of the burden-shifting to European countries and wanted to see still more.

Beyond Iran: Trade, AI, and Ukraine

While the Iran war will dominate, the summit’s formal agenda is broad. Trump is expected to focus on economic development and security, supply chain resilience, artificial intelligence, regulatory streamlining, and energy abundance.

Trade tensions add another layer of complexity. Trump is pushing to rebuild his tariff structure after a court setback earlier in the year, further straining ties with major trading partners. Officials told reporters they did not expect any trade-related breakthroughs with Canada or India during the summit.

The gathering, which brings together the leaders of the US, France, Germany, the UK, Canada, Italy, and Japan along with the European Union, is also expected to address trade with China, critical minerals sourcing, and Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Europe’s Push on Ukraine

For European leaders, the summit is an opportunity to ease tensions and persuade Trump to support new peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. The UK, France, and Germany want Russia to accept an immediate ceasefire along the current front lines as a starting point for negotiations, paired with robust security guarantees for Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be part of the picture, though not through a formal sit-down. Trump has not scheduled an official meeting with him, but officials noted that Zelenskyy would participate in a working session with the G7 leaders, leaving open the possibility the two could still cross paths on the sidelines.

A Symbolic Dinner at Versailles

The summit will close on a more ceremonial note. At its conclusion on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron will host Trump for a separate dinner at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris.

The event is keyed to the 250th anniversary of American independence, with Macron’s office describing Versailles as a symbol of French-American friendship. It offers a moment of pageantry to balance what is otherwise shaping up to be a tense and high-stakes diplomatic week.

A Fraught History With the G7

Trump’s complicated relationship with the G7 is well established. Last year’s summit in Canada was also a tense affair, and the president left that meeting early to manage an earlier flare-up between Israel and Iran, eventually joining strikes targeting Tehran’s nuclear program.

That history lends added weight to this year’s gathering. With a possible Iran deal in the balance, European allies eager for movement on Ukraine, and trade frictions simmering, the Évian summit will test whether Trump and his partners can find common ground, or whether the divisions on display in recent years will once again define the proceedings.