US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet his counterparts from the Group of 7 industrialized democracies, but he may face an unfriendly reception due to President Donald Trump’s policies.
Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs have sparked responses from European Union and Canadian leaders, who are concerned about full-scale trade wars with US partners. Rubio will attend a two-day meeting in La Malbaie, Quebec, starting Thursday, where he is expected to hear complaints about Trump’s decisions from once-friendly countries like Canada and Britain.
Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly has stated that she will raise the issue of tariffs in every meeting, citing Trump’s persistent talk of making Canada the 51st US state as “unjustifiable.” Rubio downplayed these comments, saying Trump was only expressing what he thought would be a good idea. However, Rubio acknowledged that G7 partners should understand that the tariffs are a policy decision to protect American competitiveness.
The meeting also focuses on Ukraine issues and other common topics. Rubio hopes for constructive discussions with his allies on these issues, despite concerns about a difficult reception from counterparts. He has already skipped a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in South Africa due to disagreements over Trump’s agenda.
G7 unity is crucial in addressing Russia’s actions in Ukraine, according to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. She emphasized that strength and unity are key to achieving peace, a message also echoed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who plans to host a virtual meeting of countries on Saturday to discuss progress.
Rubio’s goal is not to antagonize Russia but to promote a peaceful solution to the conflict. He will meet with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia before heading to Canada to discuss a possible ceasefire proposal.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/g7-canada-trump-tariffs-rubio-ukraine-russia-5f39395504f46892882ebb9be9de20e9