G7 leaders convened in the French resort town of Evian-les-Bains beginning June 16, 2026, seeking to forge unity with U.S. President Donald Trump amid a series of pressing global challenges. The summit comes shortly after Washington and Tehran reached an agreement aimed at ending ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, notably addressing the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.
Trump arrived at the summit fresh from celebrating his 80th birthday, bringing heightened attention from allies eager for further details on the Iran deal, which is scheduled for formal signing in Switzerland on June 19. French President Emmanuel Macron, hosting the three-day meeting, emphasized the significance of the accord’s implications for regional stability, including concerns about Lebanon, Iran’s ballistic missile activities, and the long-term reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. A UK-France joint mission prepared to support the secure reopening of the waterway stands ready for deployment, Macron stated.
Tensions persist, however, as Iran reportedly inserted a clause into the framework concerning the imposition of maritime service fees on vessels transiting the Strait. This development adds complexity amid global calls for the waterway’s reopening, which had been restricted during the conflict, causing spikes in energy prices worldwide.
The summit’s agenda spans beyond Iran, reflecting a broad spectrum of geopolitical and economic issues. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is attending amidst escalating violence attributed to Russian attacks, including a bombardment that resulted in at least 11 casualties and damage to a prominent Kyiv cathedral. European leaders, alongside Canada, intend to press Trump on advancing a peace resolution aligned with Ukraine’s conditions.
In addition to addressing security and conflict issues, Macron aims to spearhead discussions on global economic imbalances and the regulation of digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence. Prominent AI industry figures such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, and Arthur Mensch of Mistral AI are participating in a dedicated session on protecting minors online.
The summit also features participation from several non-G7 leaders, exemplifying France’s efforts to broaden the group’s global influence. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are among the premiers attending. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan are set to engage in a special session focused on Iran’s role in regional affairs.
The gathering unfolds under stringent security measures, including thousands of deployed police and military personnel, extending into neighboring Switzerland where prior protests have surfaced. Meanwhile, diplomatic frictions linger between the United States and France, with Trump reportedly threatening tariffs on French wine and champagne over Paris’s digital services tax, which has been in place since 2019.
Macron characterized the summit’s objective as fostering new agreements and collaborations to reduce global tensions and enhance economic stability. As the world’s leading economies deliberate in Evian-les-Bains, the international community watches closely for signs of progress on these intertwined diplomatic, economic, and security challenges.