European Leaders Pivot Toward Conciliation as G7 Summit Opens Amid Tensions

On Tuesday morning, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz presented President Trump with a soccer jersey featuring the number 47—a gesture of flattery and calculation reminiscent of the diplomatic approach used during the president’s first term.

This display of goodwill follows a period of intense friction, during which Mr. Merz and other European officials condemned the war in Iran, prompting Mr. Trump to announce a reduction of American troop presence on the continent.

While the trans-Atlantic alliance remains strained, leaders at the Group of 7 summit in a French Alpine spa town demonstrated a renewed willingness to maintain diplomatic decorum. Despite a year of confrontational relations, European leaders seem to have concluded that courting the disruptive president is the most effective strategy, particularly as they seek continued U.S. engagement on critical issues like the conflict in Ukraine.

“We’re on the same team,” Mr. Merz posted on social media, extending belated 80th birthday wishes to the president.

Such conciliatory rhetoric was unexpected only a week ago. Bitter disputes over Iran, threats regarding the acquisition of Greenland, and frequent criticism of Europe’s centrist leadership had led several allies to view the United States as a liability or even a threat. However, with Mr. Trump now outlining the framework of a peace deal with Iran, European leaders have returned to a strategy of charm.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the framework, stating, “That’s how diplomacy delivers.” She noted that the agreement could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, lower oil prices, and potentially terminate Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

This sudden warmth was largely anticipated by diplomats. Analysts predicted that G7 leaders would prioritize stability to prevent the summit from descending into open hostility. Jeremy Shapiro, a director at the European Council on Foreign Relations, noted that Europeans privately recognize they cannot simply wait for the Trump administration to end, as a fundamental shift has occurred in the trans-Atlantic relationship.

“The rupture does not give Europeans an alternative plan,” Mr. Shapiro explained. “So, they have to play nice with Trump.”

The timing of the peace announcement also shifted the dynamic. A definitive deal with Iran would provide a significant economic boost to European nations currently struggling with disruptions to oil and gas shipments.

For the past three months, European leaders have been caught in a difficult position: facing a U.S. president who criticized their lack of support while simultaneously dismissing their contributions, and dealing with domestic populations opposed to the war and frustrated by its economic impact.

In response, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to deploy military assets to secure the Strait of Hormuz once the ceasefire is confirmed. Mr. Starmer emphasized the importance of coordinating with the United States to reopen the waterway as quickly as possible, specifically citing demining capabilities.

President Macron, hosting the summit, reinforced this strategy by inviting Mr. Trump to dinner at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. This mirrored Macron’s first-term tactic of inviting Trump to a grand military parade on the Champs-Élysées. The strategy proved effective; Mr. Trump, known for his affinity for opulence, expressed admiration for the palace’s gilt-edged décor.

“I was leaving in the afternoon and then the French president, who happens to be a very nice man, invited me to dinner at Versailles,” Mr. Trump told reporters. “Versailles is not a gold leaf. Versailles is the real deal.”

Despite these polite exchanges, there was little indication that the president’s stance on the war in Ukraine has shifted. He reiterated to reporters that the conflict is not America’s fight, stating, “We have nothing to do with it, we sell weapons to them… We’re thousands of miles away.”

Subtle signs of frayed rapport remained. Mr. Trump did not hold a one-on-one meeting with Mr. Starmer, leading the British prime minister to clarify that he had not been snubbed. In contrast, Mr. Trump held warm private meetings with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, thanking them for their support during the Iran war.

During these encounters, Mr. Trump joked about the wealth of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and praised Sheikh Tamim for his bravery and Qatar’s multi-billion dollar investments in the U.S.

Mr. Trump spent much of the day defending the Iran agreement, though he has yet to release the specific details. He denied reports that the U.S. would invest $300 billion in Iran, stating, “We are not investing any money.” He added that the deal includes a pledge that Iran will never possess a nuclear weapon, warning of “unbelievable consequences” should that pledge be broken.

“That’s the reason I got in,” Mr. Trump said, “and that’s the reason I agreed to sign.”

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