Leaders discussed openly how to keep Trump engaged, says source. U.S. President Donald Trump’s late arrival at the summit he convened in Egypt gave his fellow leaders, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, a chance to talk among themselves about the future of Gaza and the prospects for wider peace in the Middle East, according to a senior Canadian government official with knowledge of the talks.
Leaders from around the world gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday to watch Trump sign a declaration along with the leaders of Turkey, Qatar and Egypt calling for enduring peace and prosperity in the Middle East.
But the president kept his fellow leaders waiting after his visit to Jerusalem and speech to the Israeli Knesset heralding “a new dawn for the Middle East” ran hours over schedule. “They might not be there by the time I get there, but we’ll give it a shot,” Trump joked.
The official, who spoke on condition they not be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the delay left Carney and the other leaders in the same room at the Sharm el-Sheikh International Convention Centre, spurring a rare ad hoc meeting that offered leaders a chance to talk openly and candidly. The official said the leaders talked about ways their various countries could help, with French President Emmanuel Macron discussing support for an international stabilization force for Gaza, a key part of Trump’s 20-point plan for the territory. The source said Carney pushed on getting more aid quickly into Gaza, adding Canada has supplies ready to go.
There was also chatter about using existing programs to try to accelerate deliveries, including Operation Proteus, Canada’s contribution to the Office of the Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, they said.
Source: cbc.ca/news/politics
