When President Trump arrives in France on Monday just hours after taking in a series of cage fights outside the White House, U.S. allies will watch to see whether he approaches the annual Group of 7 summit there as an opportunity for collaboration or yet another brawl.
Mr. Trump’s positions on trade, the war in Ukraine and NATO have put him at odds with European leaders for years. But it is the three-month-long U.S.-Israeli war with Iran that has pushed those allies to see Mr. Trump more as a combative opponent than a reliable partner.
He has lashed out in recent weeks at leaders in Europe for not supporting the war, which has killed thousands and roiled the global economy. President Trump announced on Sunday that the United States and Iran had reached an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and continue negotiations to end the war. But the conflict and the rise in energy prices it has caused were still likely to dominate the meetings.
“What Trump is going to show up? Will he be in a fighting mood?” asked Heidi E. Crebo-Rediker, a senior fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations. “He might want to show up to berate allies for not stepping up to fight in the Gulf.”
Mr. Trump is expected to meet with President Emmanuel Macron of France on Monday evening before holding group sessions with other world leaders on Tuesday and Wednesday. Mr. Trump will look to secure their help in removing Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz once it reopens, according to senior administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the summit. He will also meet with leaders of Qatar, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
The administration is also hoping to reach new investment deals with the nations and discuss issues like critical minerals, artificial intelligence and illegal immigration, according to the administration officials. The last issue, migration, could set the stage for Mr. Trump to clash with European leaders who have questioned his administration.