The club of large western industrialized nations has a conflict-filled summit program – and a very visible elephant in the room. What is Evian is discussed.
June 15, 2026, 4:49 p.mJune 15, 2026, 4:52 p.m
Host Emmanuel Macron arrives in Evian: Will he bring Trump and Zelensky together at the G7?Image: keystone
Iran agreement
The framework agreement between the USA and Iran is seen as a good omen for the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains on Lake Geneva. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz congratulates both sides, including the regime in Tehran. Other Western leaders don’t go that far. Many, however, express concern that Israel under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could continue its air strikes on Lebanon and endanger the fragile agreement.
Meeting of two self-promoters
Even before the G7 meeting begins, host Emmanuel Macron welcomes Donald Trump in an effort to convince his US counterpart of Western unity. And to prevent the self-promoter, who is at least as narcissistic and quick to snap, from leaving early, as he has already done in the past.
In power for nine years, five of them at the same time as Trump, the Frenchman cleverly invited the American to the end of the summit in the gold-decorated Palace of Versailles to celebrate the independence of the USA 250 years ago – which was then supported by France.
Trump appeared in good spirits on Monday after the Iran deal and his 80th birthday; But that didn’t stop him from threatening Macron with a drastic 100 percent tariff surcharge on champagne and wine if he didn’t withdraw the French digital tax for American tech companies.
Will there be a big Ukraine tête-à-tête?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be officially received in Evian on Tuesday. Talks about “Peace and security for Ukraine and Europe” are planned. Will Trump be there? French diplomats hope that Zelensky could at least “cross” Trump if the two don’t even meet for a conversation.
Air Force One carrying US President Donald Trump lands in Geneva.Image: keystone
Macron’s goal is also for Trump to accept the Europeans as negotiating partners for a Ukraine solution without the USA withdrawing from efforts to find a peace solution. Macron also wants Trump to tighten sanctions against Moscow after a Russian attack set fire to the UNESCO-protected, thousand-year-old Pecherska Lavra church in Kiev.
The Gulf states are coming
Qatar, the Emirates and Egypt are coming to Evian on Tuesday with their highest representatives for a joint working lunch. Their presence is, in turn, a wink to the USA: Trump should realize that the Gulf states absolutely want peace with Iran, specifically in the Strait of Hormuz and in Lebanon. Indirectly, they are also trying to isolate Israel, which is endangering peace efforts with its Lebanon offensive.
Appearance of emerging countries
Four important emerging countries follow the Gulf states in Evian-les-Bains: Brazil is represented by its President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. South Korea and Kenya also come to the health resort on Lake Geneva. They are intended to ensure contact with the G20 committee – and not least with development aid, which is neglected in Evian.
The G7 nations USA, Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Canada and Japan admit that they can no longer or do not want to direct world affairs alone. This is also because there are increasingly so many cracks in the Club of Seven that the G7 idea as such is being questioned. Incidentally, there is only a cautious approach to the emerging country of China: Last week, Macron and Merz held a video call with a deputy prime minister of Beijing.
Switzerland is also at the table
Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin is invited to the gala dinner at this year’s G7 meeting. Macron is appreciative of the fact that Switzerland has made Geneva airport available to the G7 guests – and, above all, that it tolerated the protest demonstration on Sunday in Geneva on its soil. France had banned them on its territory. The material damage in Geneva caused by stone throwing and arson is considerable.
Federal President Guy Parmelin welcomes EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.Image: keystone
Economy, climate, artificial intelligence
The topic of the global economy has been bigger than ever since the first G7 meeting after the oil shock of 1972. Macron had already made it clear in advance that he wanted to denounce the global economic “imbalances” and advocate “common, sustainable growth”. His shortened message is: China produces too much, the USA consumes too much – and is therefore sealing itself off with trade tariffs. Trump will of course take countermeasures in view of the approaching midterm elections in the USA and present his protectionist policy as protection for his citizens.
Artificial intelligence is present through Macron’s slogan “AI for everyone”. The French president advocates a “safe, rapid and effective” spread of this technology across the world. However, last week the US government blocked access to the models of the American AI company Anthropic for foreigners without consultation. Cybersecurity is cited as the reason. Macron also invited Anthropic boss Dario Amodei to Evian, knowing full well that this philanthropist is at odds with Trump.
And global warming? The Summit of Seven will end with a press conference from host Macron, at which he may also be asked why one of the planet’s most burning issues was not included in the summit program. Maybe because Trump, the all too visible elephant at the world summit, was against it?