The leaders of the seven major democracies are gathering in Evian-les-Bains, France this weekend for a summit that opens Monday and runs through June 17. The meeting comes as the United States is on the verge of finalizing a ceasefire with Iran, putting the Middle East at the center of what was expected to be a tense gathering.

French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting the summit in the alpine spa town on the shores of Lake Geneva. The other leaders attending are from Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States. European Union representatives are also present. President Trump is expected to arrive Sunday evening ahead of Monday’s opening session.

The Iran peace deal is the summit’s defining issue. Trump said Friday he expected the Islamabad Declaration to be signed over the weekend in Europe, possibly in Geneva. The G7 allies want to be involved in implementing any ceasefire, particularly in demining the Strait of Hormuz. Britain and France have already reached out to more than thirty-five countries to assemble a naval clearing force.

Ukraine will also figure prominently. European members of the G7 pushed for a renewed commitment to Kyiv ahead of what looks likely to be a difficult winter. Germany has pressed for a joint declaration endorsing continued military support. The US position on additional Ukraine aid remains uncertain.

Trade tensions between the United States and its G7 partners are expected to surface but are unlikely to dominate, given the scale of the Iran crisis. Trump’s tariff policies have strained relations with Canada and the European Union over the past year, and no significant breakthrough on trade is expected from this summit.

Security around Evian is extensive. Switzerland has temporarily reinstated border controls along the French frontier from June 10 to 19. Thousands of police and military personnel have been deployed across the Lake Geneva region. The Swiss government said it would contribute to security costs given the spillover into its territory.

Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated in Geneva on Saturday, the day before the summit, against the G7 and what organizers called the alliance’s failure to stop the Iran war earlier. The demonstration passed largely without incident, though police made a small number of arrests near the Place des Nations. G7 protest movements have a long history in Europe, going back to the 2001 Genoa summit. Protests connected to the Iran ceasefire process have drawn fresh attention this weekend.

Macron has signaled he wants the summit to produce a concrete communiqué on both Iran and climate, though French officials privately acknowledge that agreement on Iran will be easier if Washington and Tehran have already signed by Monday morning. If the deal is not yet signed, the G7 could serve as the occasion for its formal announcement, which would be a significant political win for France as host. Analysts said the summit’s success will likely be judged by whether it produces a credible roadmap for post-war reconstruction and a clear Hormuz reopening timeline. The global economic impact of the war has made both points urgent.