The June 15-17 G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains will focus on the Iran agreement, the war in Ukraine, global economic imbalances and efforts to secure critical minerals outside China’s dominant supply chains.US President Donald Trump is due to attend the gathering after skipping last year’s G7 summit in Canada early.

French officials said his participation was important as allies seek coordination on major international issues.G7 leaders have been affected by Washington’s recent foreign policy decisions, which have reshaped debates over the Middle East, global trade and diplomatic relations.

Trump is scheduled to meet Middle Eastern leaders and hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the summit. The meeting with Zelensky comes as Ukraine continues to seek military support while Russian advances have slowed.G7 members are expected to seek details of the US-Iran agreement.

A memorandum of understanding is scheduled to be signed in Switzerland on Friday, though the full terms were not immediately disclosed.Trump said the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy shipments that Iran had effectively closed for months, would reopen on Friday and that the US blockade of Iranian ports would end.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, would end permanently from Monday night. Iranian officials said broader negotiations, including sanctions relief and discussions on its nuclear program, would follow during a 60-day ceasefire period.

The United Arab Emirates, along with mediators Qatar and Egypt, will also participate in the G7 discussions.The summit is also a major diplomatic moment for French President Emmanuel Macron, who is hosting the meeting during the final phase of his presidency.

France has used its G7 leadership to push discussions on global economic imbalances, describing the issue as a shared challenge involving China’s production capacity, US consumption and European investment levels.Brazil, India, Kenya and South Korea have been invited to join the talks, while Macron has encouraged China to increase domestic consumption.

Sanchez’s trip highlights Spain’s effort to chart an independent foreign policy within Europe, positioning China as a strategic partner rather than a geopolitical rival, in contrast with Washington’s stance.

Trump has previously criticized Madrid over its refusal to grant landing rights for U.S. forces during the Iran conflict and for what he described as insufficient defence spending among NATO allies.

The Spanish leader’s approach has drawn mixed reactions domestically, with supporters backing his economic engagement strategy while businesses and opposition figures warn that deteriorating relations with the United States could carry economic risks.

A government source said Sanchez’s meeting with Xi Jinping on Tuesday would focus on geopolitical issues, reflecting Madrid’s view of China as a stabilizing global actor. However, trade representatives cautioned that such positioning could exacerbate existing strains, particularly as U.S. tariffs on European Union imports continue to weigh on Spanish exports.

“The United States is the leading foreign investor in Spain,” said Ramon Gascon Alonso of Spain’s Exporters’ and Investors’ Club, pointing to the importance of bilateral trade in key sectors of the economy.

Opposition figures have also criticized Sanchez’s stance, warning that public disagreements with Washington could undermine NATO cohesion and jeopardize the U.S. military presence in Spain.

China’s ambassador to Spain, Yao Jing, said stable bilateral relations had contributed to increased Chinese investment, describing Spain as pragmatic in its approach to economic cooperation and market access.

Official data showed Chinese firms invested 643 million euros in Spain in 2025, up from 149 million a year earlier, bringing total investment between 2010 and 2025 to 9.7 billion euros, largely concentrated in extractive industries and the energy sector.

During the three-day visit, Sanchez is scheduled to attend a formal banquet hosted by Xi, meet Premier Li Qiang and senior legislator Zhao Leji, and engage with business and academic leaders, including a visit to Xiaomi and a speech at Tsinghua University.

Spain is seeking to narrow a trade deficit with China that has more than doubled over four years to nearly $50 billion in 2025, with efforts focused on boosting agricultural and manufacturing exports.

Officials are also aiming to finalize a regionalization agreement to protect poultry exports affected by bird flu, following a similar arrangement that supported the pork industry during a previous African swine fever outbreak.