Trump Shocks European Leaders At G7 & The UAE Moves Beyond Hormuz

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It's Thursday, the 18th of June. Welcome to The Presidents Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker. Your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed.
First up, G7 leaders were in for a surprise this week with a subdued President Trump arriving in France and taking a more measured approach than many allies had expected. And yes, that is the first time anyone has ever said President Trump and subdued in the same sentence. Later in the show, the war with Iran may have permanently changed how Gulf nations think about energy security. And the UAE, well, they're spending billions to ensure it never has to rely on the Strait of Hormuz again. Plus an update on the crisis in Haiti, where a newly formed security force is taking the fight directly to the powerful gangs that have terrorized the country for years. And in today's Back of the Brief, a bizarre encounter in the English Channel after reports that a Russian warship fired warning shots near a British yacht. That doesn't seem like a fair fight. Now, before we turn to today's spotlight, a quick update on the US-Iran agreement. You remember that the Trump administration has now publicly, officially revealed portions of the memorandum that was reportedly electronically signed over the weekend, including immediate waivers allowing Iranian oil exports to resume, a proposed framework for at least $300 billion in reconstruction and economic development projects, and a 60-day negotiating period aimed at reaching a final agreement on Iran's nuclear program. Officials said that many of the most important issues, including the future of Iran's uranium stockpile and long-term sanctions relief remain unresolved. We'll have a much deeper dive into the newly released details and what they could mean for the future of the agreement in today's PDB afternoon bulletin.
The agreement, however, loomed large over this week's G7 summit in France, where many European leaders welcomed the prospect of lower energy prices and a return to stability or something resembling stability in the Strait of Hormuz. And that brings us to today's spotlight.
One of the more surprising developments at this week's G7 summit in France wasn't a policy announcement or a diplomatic breakthrough. It was the apparent demeanor of the President of the United States. For years, President Trump has been the wild card at gatherings like this. Previous G7 summits were often marked by public disagreements with allies, tense exchanges over trade and security issues, and the occasional diplomatic bombshell. European leaders have frequently approached these meetings, wondering what kind of confrontation might erupt next. This year has been, by most accounts, a bit different. According to reporting from both Reuters and the Wall Street Journal, the version of Trump who arrived in Evian-LeBan was noticeably more restrained than many of his counterparts expected. There were still flashes of Trump's trademark confidence, but the overall tone was far more cooperative and subdued than in recent years.
That shift appears to have created an opening for European leaders to accomplish something that they've been trying to do for months, reengage President Trump on Ukraine. Part of the reason for the improved atmosphere was timing. Of course, Trump arrived in France fresh off the announcement of the preliminary agreement or memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran. While the deal has generated criticism in some quarters, particularly among those who question whether Tehran can be trusted to uphold any of its commitments, it was generally welcomed by European leaders. And that is not difficult to understand. For much of the past several months, Europe has been dealing with the economic consequences of the conflict with Iran. Disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz sent shockwaves through global energy markets, driving uncertainty and raising fears of a broader economic downturn. Now, with the strait set to apparently reopen within the next 30 days and oil prices moving lower, many European governments see the agreement as a major step toward restoring stability. Hope, of course, springs eternal. In fact, G7 leaders publicly described the deal as a breakthrough and praised President Trump's role in securing it. European countries are already discussing ways that they can assist with efforts to secure shipping routes and support implementation of the agreement. Put simply, while much of the debate in Washington is focused on what concessions were made to Iran, European leaders are looking at the situation through a different lens. They see an energy crisis that may finally be ending. That goodwill appears to have helped create a more productive environment for discussions on another issue dominating the summit, and that would be the war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly worked behind the scenes to ensure that Ukrainian President Zelensky would have time to meet directly with Trump. European leaders used the summit to make a coordinated argument that Ukraine's battlefield position has improved, and that Russia may no longer possess the overwhelming leverage many assumed had held just even a year ago. By the end of the summit, there were signs that the message may have resonated. Reuters reports that G7 leaders issued a joint statement reaffirming their support for Ukraine and backing additional sanctions pressure on Russia. Trump also approved military production licenses that would allow American companies to manufacture long-range missile systems with Ukraine. Perhaps most notably, Trump's public comments reflected a tone that many European leaders have been hoping to hear. Speaking to reporters, Trump described Russia as the quote offensive party in the conflict and acknowledged that Moscow is suffering heavier personnel losses than Ukraine. Now that may sound like a small shift, but it represents a notable departure from the more skeptical posture that Trump has often taken toward Kiev's war effort. French President Emmanuel Macron later told reporters that he had observed what he described as a quote real change in approach from Trump regarding the war.