In the heart of Canada, President Donald Trump stirred the political pot yet again, blasting his predecessor Barack Obama for the removal of Russia from the esteemed G8.
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Isolating Russia, he suggests, has exacerbated the very geopolitical tensions we see today in Eastern Europe.
During the recent G7 summit in Alberta, Canada, Donald Trump wasted no time asserting his bold belief that Russia’s expulsion from the G8 was a strategic blunder.
He pointed fingers at former President Barack Obama and Canadian officials, blaming them for isolating Russia at a time when engagement was crucial.
Trump’s remarks left Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in an awkward position as he sought to steer the summit’s focus back on topic.
Following Russia’s removal in 2014 due to its annexation of Crimea, the collective decision to scrub Russia from the G8 was likely intended as a geopolitical statement.
Yet Trump contends that the exclusion of Vladimir Putin has only heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump’s criticism didn’t stop there—he labeled the removal as a major mistake, suggesting it directly contributed to the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe.
Trump’s assertive comments reflect his longstanding advocacy for Russia’s participation in what is now the G7.
Since his time as president, Trump has repeatedly expressed that political inclusivity could have prevented war.
“They threw Russia out, which I claimed was a very big mistake, even though I wasn’t in politics then. Putin is no longer at the table, so it makes life more complicated,” Trump said, cited by The Washington Times.
“Putin speaks to me. He doesn’t speak to anybody else. He doesn’t want to talk because he was very insulted when he got thrown out of the G8 as I would be, as you would be, as anybody would be. He’s very insulted,” the president added.
Carney interjected to remind everyone that the summit also had pressing agenda items, like the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
Nevertheless, Trump’s comments left a lasting impression, asserting that extending a G7 invitation to Putin now was impractical and unnecessary.
Still, he firmly claimed that if diplomacy had been in vogue back then, today’s headlines would be far less ominous.
Although hopeful for peace, Trump acknowledged recent diplomatic damage as irreversible, saying, “Too much water has gone over the dam.”
By reigniting past debates, Trump underscores his belief in diplomacy over exclusion.
Ahead of the G7 Summit in Alberta, Canada, President Trump told reporters that it was a "big mistake" for Russia to have been kicked out of the then-G8, which took place after Russia invaded Crimea. pic.twitter.com/Hz9l9I10gp
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 16, 2025
The questions remain: Are we isolating nations at our peril, or safeguarding global interests by keeping the G8 a G7?
One thing is certain—President Trump’s staunch position has again spotlighted a crucial geopolitical debate.
One can only wonder what diplomatic moves lie ahead as the G7 grapples with its past, present, and perhaps future challenges of strategic engagement with Russia.
