World leaders have gathered in Évian, France, for a three-day G7 summit taking place just after the United States and Iran reached a framework agreement that opens a 60-day negotiation window. French President Emmanuel Macron, hosting what is expected to be his final G7 summit before leaving office next year, placed the Middle East, Ukraine, China, artificial intelligence, and online child protection among the key priorities.
Macron said discussions would also focus on critical raw materials, expressing optimism that a joint position could be reached among the G7 countries. He warned that global dependence on a limited number of suppliers remains a strategic vulnerability, particularly after recent export restrictions on rare earth elements used in energy and defense industries.
"We all need access to critical minerals and rare earths. Existing dependencies remain," Macron said, adding that future coordination should help countries "cooperate to diversify" supply chains and reduce risks of disruption.
On security issues, Macron stressed that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) must play a central role in verifying any limits on Iran's nuclear program under the emerging US-Iran framework. He said enriched uranium should either be removed to a third country or diluted on-site under strict international supervision, with continuous monitoring of facilities.
"The enriched uranium must either be removed and placed in a third country, or diluted on-site. It is then essential to ensure IAEA oversight," Macron said, adding that nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities must be addressed in any final agreement.
He described the emerging deal as fragile but important, stressing that implementation would be the key test of its durability. According to Macron, the European Union could also contribute to stabilizing maritime security in the region, including through a possible deployment in the Strait of Hormuz within days of a finalized agreement.
"We must do everything to implement this framework agreement," he said, noting that France could deploy aircraft and a mine-clearing frigate if conditions allow.
Macron also reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open for global trade and free navigation, emphasizing that no party should impose restrictions on shipping routes critical to global energy supplies.
"We'll do everything we can to make sure there are no tolls," he said.
Alongside security discussions, tensions with the United States over trade policy also surfaced at the summit. Macron called for firm but respectful engagement after Washington threatened new tariffs on French wine and champagne linked to disputes over digital taxation on major US technology firms.
"That's not how it works. We have reached an agreement on tariffs, and now what is needed is stability," Macron said, adding that tariffs ultimately harm both sides of the Atlantic economy.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose steep tariffs if France does not withdraw its digital tax, escalating tensions ahead of EU-US trade discussions scheduled for later this week.
Beyond trade and security, the summit agenda includes artificial intelligence governance, online child safety, and geopolitical competition with China. Leaders are also expected to address supply chain resilience and coordination on critical minerals, following disruptions linked to global trade restrictions.
The G7 meeting comes at a moment of heightened diplomatic activity, with leaders seeking to translate the US-Iran framework into a more detailed agreement while attempting to stabilize broader regional tensions and global economic uncertainty.
