World leaders had to contend with the escalating crisis in the Middle East as they gathered for the G7 summit in Canada – and there were grizzly bears to worry about as well
World leaders had one more security issue to worry about as they gathered in the Canadian Rockies this week for the G7 summit – grizzly bears.
In the weeks leading up to annual gathering authorities were hard at work fortifying a lodge in Kananaskis, Alberta, not just from the usual threats, but also the local wildlife. Buffaloberry bushes – popular with bears – were removed from around the venue, eight-foot electric fences installed to keep the predators at a safe distance, and drones deployed to monitor the 65 grizzlies estimated to inhabit Banff National Park.
But it was not enough for one delegation at the summit, who spotted a grizzly on a nearby golf course. It was later identified as the “Boss Bear” – one of the most famous in the region. Fortunately the closest Keir Starmer got to the local wildlife during the three-day event was a persistent chipmunk that repeatedly approached the PM’s feet during a series of broadcast interviews.
But perhaps none of the world leaders could prepare for the arrival of Donald Trump. Just hours after Air Force One touched down on the tarmac Calgary International Airport, Alberta, the US President was already making a scene.
“The G7 used to be the G8,” the American leader moaned as he stood alongside the host of this year’s summit and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Despite Vladimir Putin’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, it was a “very big mistake”, he said, to boot Russia out of the close-knit club of nations that gather annually.
Perhaps not the most diplomatic approach to the imminent arrival of Ukraine’s war-time leader President Zelensky as a special guest of the G7 leaders. Trump was then signing off a long-awaited UK-US trade deal with Keir Starmer.
As the two leaders gathered in front of the waiting media pack, the US President mistakenly referred to the deal with the European Union and dropped the papers on the floor. “It’s a little windy out here,” he joked.
Rushing to his assistance, the PM knelt down and brushed them up, fearing anyone else lending a hand could be tackled to the ground by the President’s security detail. And then it became the G6.
The US President announced his abrupt departure from the summit – walking out a day early and missing key talks with Zelensky to help reach a ceasefire in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron valiantly attempted to suggest Mr Trump had flown home in an attempt to negotiate a ceasefire in the Middle East.
How did the US President respond? “Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a ‘cease fire’ between Israel and Iran,” he said.
“Wrong!” He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay Tuned!”
It was clear as Mr Starmer jetted into the G7 from London over the weekend the conflict in the Middle East would overshadow the summit. He told reporters onboard the flight that British fighter jets, including Typhoons, were being deployed to the region to protect UK assets.
Downing Street had been hoping that the leaders gathered at the summit this week would urge both the Iranian regime and Benjamin Nentayahu to rapidly de-escalate.
Mr Starmer even told reporters he did not believe the US would become involved in the Israeli assault on Tehran. “There is nothing the President said that suggests he’s about to get involved in this conflict, on the contrary, the G7 statement was about de-escalation,” he said.
But just moments later the erratic President was back on Truth Social blowing up attempts to de-escalate the crisis.
He claimed America was in control of the Iranian skies and was not going to assassinate the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “at least for now”.
Without further explanation, he went on: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.”