Public bonhomie, Chinese nuances and Brexit discussions filled the G7 menu

Images of Joe Biden and G7 leaders enjoying a lobster chatting up close on a Cornish beach while the images may not have been the best advertisement for social exclusion rules during the pandemic. But beach cooking was designed to send another message: Under America’s renewed leadership, the world’s major western democracies are back in business.

Four years after Donald Trump’s presidency, when matches of diplomatic shouts were more characteristic of the usual G7 summits than pleasant dining, it was a collective sigh. “This is the first time in four years that they have supported this together,” a British official said.

The warmth towards the roads was reflected in the incident between the US president and the Frenchman Emmanuel Macron, who was walking across the white sand of Carbis Bay, arms around each other. “The U.S. is back,” Biden said. Macron backed away, “Yeah, definitely.”

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson, enjoying the role of host after Brexit, described the three-day meeting as “historic”. After Trump’s hiatus over the years, there was a real deal on global issues between the leaders Johnson called Democracy XI: the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Australia, South Korea and South guests. Africa. Narendra Modi of India was almost present.

It was marked in that an apparent change for social democracy of the world’s major capitalist economies, the G7 called on Biden to “fill the moment and support the economy” with more spending; Johnson spoke of the need to fight inequality.

But while there was consensus on additional funding for vaccines in the developing world, there was consensus on a plan to tackle future pandemics, funding for girls ’education, and the need to fund“ clean and green ”projects in development. .

Biden said he saw the peak at a time when the West was hardening its stance on China, developing a “democratic” alternative to the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, According to Washington, Beijing’s influence – including unsustainable debt and poor labor standards – is spreading around the world.

“I think you’ll just see a direct relationship with China,” Biden told reporters after the summit.

Although White House officials said Saturday that the first session of the G7 was focused on China, Britain wanted to avoid positioning itself in those terms, saying it was “better built” after the pandemic.

Johnson declined to mention China at a press conference and an EU diplomat said Johnson, Canadian Justin Trudeau and Italian Mario Draghi argued that the G7 should emphasize making a positive case in the West rather than deliberately opposing China.

EU countries strongly emphasized that they believe this is a more nuanced approach relations with Beijing. “Our approach is that we need to work with China on issues like climate change, compete in areas like global supply chains, and compete in areas like human rights,” said a European diplomat.

Johnsonena A review of recent UK foreign policy it reflects Europe’s broader effort to go two horses: “deeper trade ties and more Chinese investment in the UK”, while China challenges other areas.

Biden appeared “pleased” with the communiqué of the summit – officials agreed at 1:30 a.m. Sunday and mentioned China three times, as well. human rights abuses in Xinjiang. U.S. authorities have stressed that the West needs to go further with a package of global infrastructure to tackle Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, not just green schemes.

There was also little money when British officials called the plan “green tape and the road”. Downing Street said Britain and other western countries were more likely to “align” their promises to fund environmental projects in poor countries.

For Johnson, he wanted to use the summit at a time when Britain was aware of a five-year introspection on Brexit and as a key power to confront the world, the Carbis Bay summit was only a partial success.

As with other national summer events – such as the 2012 Olympics or a royal wedding – the UK showed dominance in creating its own TV shows and “feeling good” events.

At the back of the blue sky and white sand beach, the chiefs met Queen Elizabeth in a futuristic environmental park as they took their partners and spouses to the Cornish Cave Theater. RAF Red Arrows pirouetted on the beach barbecue. Compared to the last G7 summit, the event was well-attended.

But Brexit continued Johnson’s attempt to project the image of a confident “convening” country that is once again reuniting the world. The Prime Minister returned to rhetorical struggles with his closest European trading partners in the UK.

Biden asked Johnson before the summit to cool the Northern Irish language. But the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom he climbed – To arouse the anger of the French delegation.

EU foreign minister Dominic Raab has accused EU leaders of behaving as if “Ireland is somehow another UK country”. David Frost, Britain’s EU minister, appeared at meetings carrying Union Jack socks, and British officials said HMS Tamar, a Royal Navy ship patrolling the waters of Carbis Bay, was a ship recently sent to the Channel Islands. Fishing conflict with France.

Johnson stressed in a closing press conference that Brexit was only a “very small” part of the G7 discussions. For almost two years the previous meeting of Western leaders was a “wonderful harmony”.

This was certainly not a repeat of the 2018 G7, when Trump rejected the summit statement and called the host, Canadian Justin Trudeau. “Weak and unfair”. But leaders who left Carbis Bay on Sunday left many accounts unfinished.