G7 Summit Concludes Without Final Communique as Deep Divisions Surface

The Group of Seven summit, chaired by France, concluded on Wednesday in Evian without issuing a final communique—the second consecutive year the bloc has failed to produce a unified closing statement. Instead, summit organizers released nine thematic deliverables covering geopolitics, the global economy, and public health. Diplomatic sources indicated that organizers had abandoned plans for a final communique during preparatory discussions, opting for separate thematic documents to obscure disagreements, particularly between the United States and its six allies.

Tensions between the United States and other G7 members were evident throughout the three-day meeting. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs of up to 100 percent on French wine, demanding that France eliminate its digital services tax targeting American technology companies. French President Emmanuel Macron rejected the demand, asserting that such taxation falls within Europe's legal framework and emphasizing that "partners should never impose tariffs on one another or create instability." Though Macron characterized the summit as "objectively a success," he acknowledged persistent differences over climate change and United Nations matters.

Disagreements extended across multiple domains. In security matters, European countries expressed willingness to participate in maritime escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz, while Trump argued such external involvement was unnecessary. European officials also expressed concern that Trump might shift focus from Middle East tensions to reassert control over Ukraine peace efforts, potentially undermining European diplomatic strategy and pressure on Russia.

Technological governance emerged as another flashpoint. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney warned that excessive reliance on U.S. AI models poses strategic risks, while Macron criticized American restrictions on access to advanced AI technologies as reflecting a "nationalist" approach. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to ban social media use for those under 16—a move observers noted could antagonize Trump's technology allies.

Analysts increasingly identify the United States as the principal source of uncertainty within the G7. The bloc's failure to maintain consensus reflects deeper structural challenges as it struggles to represent and manage global affairs in an increasingly multipolar world. The economic impact of Middle East tensions, which has hit European economies harder than the United States, has further complicated consensus-building efforts among the group.