Compliments and mutual courtesies were exchanged today in Evian, at the opening of a G7 summit where French President Emmanuel Macron, who is hosting the summit, had set out to repair a relationship that a few months ago seemed permanently strained: open criticism from Paris, even more aggressive responses from Washington, peppered with wild jokes about Macron's relationship with First Lady Brigitte. Today, peace, with Emmanuel Macron praising the peace agreement just concluded by the United States with Iran and Trump expressing his thanks: " Emmanuel has been a special friend to me. We have had a fantastic relationship. We have worked together on many agreements ." Later, receiving Trump for dinner, Macron smiled and shook hands in front of the cameras, then even hugged and exchanged kisses with Brigitte.
Donald Trump arrived in Geneva with several European leaders, whose immigration policies he has frequently criticized in recent months. "If you import people from Third World countries, you quickly become the Third World. And there's nothing you can do about it," the American president wrote in a post on Truth Social, published aboard Air Force One en route to France.
On the French shore of Lake Geneva, there's anticipation for a summit that could prove crucial for the outcome of international crises. Two wars will dominate the agenda: the Middle East and Ukraine, with Zelensky hoping for a bilateral meeting with the tycoon after a "fantastic" phone call with the US president yesterday.
Face to face with Macron
But at the "Evian Resort," the large space protected from the ground and the air to protect the work and relaxation of heads of state and government, the discussions will also focus on defense, the economic imbalances fueling geopolitical tensions, international partnership and solidarity, shared, balanced, and sustainable economic growth, and, of course, artificial intelligence. Trade tensions with China will form a permanent backdrop to the talks, which began this afternoon with the first face-to-face meeting between Macron and Trump . The United States doesn't need "much help" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Donald Trump told the French president, emphasizing that "it will be fully open on Friday. I would like France to deploy one or two ships" to secure the reopening of the Strait, he added. The French president responded: "We are ready to have fighter jets on site starting tomorrow, which can assist with reconnaissance missions. Within 48 hours, frigates can obviously be deployed, then the aircraft carrier. In short, we are ready."
The inaugural dinner
Macron then welcomed the leaders to the gardens of the Royal Hotel in Evian-les-Bains, which will host the three-day G7 summit, for the inaugural dinner. "Nice place," Trump commented as he arrived on the catwalk set up against the backdrop of Lake Geneva. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni followed . They were followed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, all accompanied by their wives. Then came Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, European Council President Antonio Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who, as always, was accompanied by her husband.
Only tomorrow morning will the leaders of the countries invited by the G7, aware that they cannot resolve conflicts and tensions alone, disembark in Evian : India, Brazil, South Korea, and Egypt. Also joining the G7 in Evian are the leaders of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, as well as Volodymyr Zelensky.
The reopening of the Strait
The resumption of navigation in the Strait and the role that European countries that have proposed themselves as guarantors of circulation (France and the United Kingdom among others) will have are the number one issue, immediately followed by the attempt by European leaders to sway Trump on their side in supporting Ukraine.
London, Paris, and Berlin are pushing for the opening of peace talks on a very different basis than a year ago, following the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska: Starmer, Macron, and Merz are demanding that Russia accept an immediate truce as a "starting point for negotiations" and provide solid security guarantees to Kiev, with the deployment of a multinational force. The summit will conclude on Wednesday, with Macron's press conference at 3:00 PM, with other leaders—including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the US president—scheduled for later in the afternoon.
The program will continue with Trump and Macron, who, along with their wives, will arrive in Versailles, just outside Paris, a couple of hours later. At the historic Palace, where the Treaty of American Independence was signed in 1783, the two leaders will stroll through the gardens, amidst water features and light displays, then inside, through the spectacular Hall of Mirrors. Dinner will then take place, but the organizational details of the event, the possible presence of other dignitaries, and subsequent travel arrangements are still to be determined.
(Unioneonline/D)