G7 Foreign Ministers Meet on Trade, Ukraine and Trump's Gaza Ceasefire Plan

WISE NEWS PRESS / ONTARIO, CANADA — Nov. 12, 2025

The Canadian government is hosting the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized democracies in Ontario to discuss defense spending, trade, and the uncertainty surrounding US President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan and efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

The two-day summit, hosted by Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and counterparts from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan. High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, along with the foreign ministers of Australia, Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, and Ukraine, are also attending the meeting.

Rubio stated on social media: "We are addressing a range of critical issues; our main focus is making the safety and security of Americans our priority."

Relations Strained by Tariffs and Trade

Canada’s G7 hosting this year has been overshadowed by tensions with its neighbor following President Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Canadian imports. However, all allied countries are facing a challenging period due to Trump’s demands on trade and his various proposals to halt global conflicts.

Trump recently ended trade negotiations with Canada after becoming angered by an anti-tariff advertisement published by the Ontario provincial government in the US. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney apologized for the ad, saying, "We are ready to resume trade talks when the Americans are ready."

Canadian Foreign Minister Anand confirmed she would meet with US Secretary of State Rubio but noted that the trade portfolio is managed by a different minister. Anand stated that the Trump administration is focused on complaints about other countries' trade policies rather than cooperation with G7 allies.

"Every complex relationship has many points of contact," Anand said. "Just as there is work to be done on trade, there are also many issues beyond trade. That is the job of Secretary Rubio and myself: to maintain the relationship in these different areas."

Anand also revealed that during a breakfast meeting in Washington last month, Rubio asked her to play a role in uniting countries to ensure the permanence of Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan, which includes a possible Gaza reconstruction conference.

Ukraine and Defense Spending Dominate Agenda

Diplomats are scheduled to meet with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister on Wednesday morning. The UK announced it would provide £13 million in aid for the repair of Ukraine's energy infrastructure as Russian attacks intensify with the approach of winter.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said before the meeting, "Vladimir Putin is trying to plunge Ukraine into darkness and cold as winter approaches," noting that this support would help Ukrainians keep their lights and heating on.

One of the biggest discussion topics within the G7 is defense spending. All G7 countries except Japan are NATO members, and Trump demands that alliance countries allocate 5% of their gross domestic product to defense. While some countries accept this target, others have not yet committed. Canada and Italy are the furthest from achieving this goal among the G7's NATO members.

Anand stated that Canada aims to reach this goal by 2035.

There are also disagreements among G7 countries regarding the Israel-Hamas war. While the UK, Canada, and France have announced they will recognize a Palestinian state even before the conflict is resolved, most G7 countries adopt a tougher stance on the Russia-Ukraine war than Trump.

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Source : EuroNews