US President Donald Trump to Meet Middle East Leaders at G7 in France

Donald Trump will meet with Middle East leaders on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend, according to U.S. officials. Trump’s itinerary includes a session on Ukraine and a post-summit dinner with President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles.

Which Middle East leaders will Trump meet and why is Netanyahu absent?

U.S. officials confirmed that Donald Trump is scheduled to hold meetings with Middle East partners during the G7 summit in France, according to reporting from The Jerusalem Post and Bloomberg. While the specific list of attending regional leaders hasn’t been fully disclosed, the meetings are set to occur on the sidelines of the primary summit events.

Benjamin Netanyahu will not be part of these discussions. The Jerusalem Post explicitly noted that the Israeli Prime Minister won’t attend the meetings. This creates a contrast in Trump’s regional outreach, as he engages with other Mideast partners while the Israeli leader remains absent from the proceedings.

What other agenda items will Trump address at the G7?

Beyond Middle East diplomacy, Trump’s schedule includes a focus on Eastern Europe. U.S. officials told CNBC that Trump will attend a dedicated session regarding Ukraine during the summit.

The inclusion of the Ukraine session alongside Mideast meetings indicates a multi-front diplomatic approach for the U.S. delegation in France. The G7, consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, typically uses these sessions to coordinate international sanctions and military or financial aid packages.

What are the plans for the post-summit meeting with President Macron?

Following the formal conclusion of the G7 summit, Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron will meet for a private dinner. AP News and Politico report that the dinner is scheduled to take place at the Palace of Versailles.

The choice of Versailles, a historic royal chateau and museum, serves as the venue for the bilateral engagement between the U.S. and French leaders. This dinner follows the broader multilateral discussions held during the G7 summit.