Skip next section Trump, Modi hold 'very good' conversation June 17, 2026
Trump, Modi hold 'very good' conversation
US President Donald Trump said he held a "very good" conversation with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi .
According to Trump, the two countries are working on trade deals , with the US leader calling Modi a "tough negotiator."
Trump said he will visit India "sometime in the future," also promising to provide India with defense should it be attacked.
"If anybody attacks that man (Modi), we're going to be there. Now, if there's a new leader, I'm not sure about it," the US president said.
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Skip next section Agreement reached on reducing minerals dependency on China June 17, 2026
Agreement reached on reducing minerals dependency on China
The G7 countries agreed to start a 60% limit on critical raw material imports to reduce their dependency on countries such as China , including on rare earths.
China's role in supplying critical minerals that are vital for the production of electronic appliances such as mobile phones should be reduced to under 60% by 2030, with an ambition to reach 50% "as soon as possible," the G7 said in a statement.
Australia, a G7 partner country, also supported the move.
"We will work together with partners to reduce critical dependencies and ensure that attempts or threats to weaponize economic dependencies fail," the statement continues.
Estonia’s reinvention and Europe’s China break
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Skip next section Germany's Merz welcomes 'new tone' in trans-Atlantic exchange June 17, 2026
Germany's Merz welcomes 'new tone' in trans-Atlantic exchange
Merz has hailed what he feels is a 'new tone' from Trump Image: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa/picture alliance German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has welcomed the G7's joint declaration of support for Ukraine, including fresh sanctions against Russia over its invasion of its neighbor.
"This is the first time since [US] President [Donald] Trump took office that we have issued a joint declaration at a G7 summit and found common language on the major foreign and security policy issues of our time. I consider that a real success," Merz said in remarks made on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in France.
"This sets a new tone, including regarding trans-Atlantic unity and resolve," he added.
Merz said issues on the summit agenda were talked about "very openly" and "very constructively."
The chancellor also Merz reiterated Berlin’s intention to help support a peace deal in the Middle East, including a possible military mission in the Strait of Hormuz if there is a lasting ceasefire.
But, he said, there was "a series of preconditions that are not yet fulfilled, so there is no immediate hurry."
Any military mission would need a parliamentary mandate in Germany, but Merz said there were two weeks left before the German legislature's summer break starts in July, meaning there was "no time pressure at the moment."
Germany's navy has already been preparing for a mission in the strait despite all the uncertainties surrounding it.
Initially good relations between Merz and Trump were clouded earlier this year when the German leader said the US was being "humiliated" by Iran in the Middle East conflict.
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Skip next section 'I'm the boss,' Trump tells G7 partners June 17, 2026
'I'm the boss,' Trump tells G7 partners
The G7 summit was rescheduled to allow Trump to celebrate his birthday on June 14 Image: Thibault Camus/REUTERS US President Donald Trump underlined his central presence at the G7 summit on Wednesday, jokingly telling the other leaders from the group "I'm the boss" as he joined the morning session of the last day.
Although Trump, as president of the most powerful country, has indeed been a focus of attention during the meeting, it is in fact being chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron .
Macron, however, took the comment in good part, asking merely, "How are you?"
French officials have some cause to be satisfied that Trump has stayed for all three days of the summit and also signed the G7 communique, unlike at the previous G7 meeting in Canada, where he left early.
Trump will even remain when the summit closes after accepting Macron's invitation to dine at the Palace of Versailles to honor the 250th anniversary of US independence.
https://p.dw.com/p/5FYHR
Skip next section Ukraine's Zelenskyy hails G7 support for Kyiv June 17, 2026
Ukraine's Zelenskyy hails G7 support for Kyiv
Zelenskyy (L) was invited to attend the G7 meeting by France's President Macron Image: Kyodo News/IMAGO G7 leaders meeting in France have pledged vital help to Ukraine as it fights Russia's ongoing invasion, now well into its fifth year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday.
In particular, Zelenskyy hailed pledges to boost his country…
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