“It may not be politically correct, but we have a world to run,” he said.
Russia was kicked out of what was then the G8 in 2014 after it invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea. Most of the other powerful industrialized nations that make up the group — which includes countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan — banded together to eject Moscow for its violation of international law.
The message was simple: If you want to be part of an elite club of nations that crafts many of the world’s most important international economic and security policies, you have to give up your meddling in Ukraine.
Trump’s comment reduces the pressure on Russia to change its behavior with Ukraine and weakens the G7 position.
After the summit got started, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that all the EU leaders present at the meeting had agreed it wasn’t time for Russia to rejoin the bloc. “Here we all agreed that a return of Russia to the G7 format summits can’t happen until substantial progress has been made in connection with the problems with Ukraine,” she told reporters on the sidelines of the summit. “That was the common view.”
Trump’s provocation was remarkable for a couple of reasons.
First, the G7 is already off to a very bad start. In the runup to the meeting, the US, France, and Germany have signaled that they might not sign the customary joint statement at the end of the summit because of sharp disagreements on trade policy, the Iran nuclear deal, and climate change policy.
French President Emmanuel Macron also suggested that the six other countries of the G7 would be happy to exclude the US from the final statement. “The American President may not mind being isolated, but neither do we mind signing a 6 country agreement if need be,” Macron tweeted on Thursday.
Trump’s warm statements toward Russia are bound to make tensions between the US and its allies even worse. The international community views exclusion from blocs like the G7 to be a key pressure tactic for discouraging Russia from meddling in other countries. If Trump says it’s no big deal, Russia will feel less stigmatized, and will also feel it has more license to continue doing what it’s doing.
The other major reason Trump’s statement is striking is because he and his associates are being investigated for possible collusion with Russia in the runup to the 2016 presidential election.
Any time Trump expresses warmth toward Russia — whether congratulating Vladimir Putin for winning a rigged election or doubting Russia’s use of cyberattacks in the 2016 election — it raises questions about his possible ties to the country or whether he feels obligated to deliver on a hidden quid pro quo.
There is no obvious reason Trump would feel urgent pressure to improve US ties with Russia at this moment — so why does he keep trying to do it?
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GUYS, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
FACEBOOK COMMENTS
View previous comments…Johnson Ahile
If he had not change his mind at G7, America would have suffered it from the other G7 countries sanctions
KayKay BigShow Maduka
Yeah its true and I hope he goes soft and do the needful on dz issue b4 it backfires. No doubt he's secretly a friend to Mr Vladmir and he desperately wants him bk bt he ain't doing it the ryt way. Make them no cum pursue my country comot oo just bcos of him. Pls is Erdogan's nation part of G7 ?
Endy Edeson
@Maduka: No, Turkey is not among G7.
The Group of Seven (G7) is a group consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These countries, with the seven largest advanced economies in the world, represent more than 62% of the global net wealth.
The Group of Seven (G7) is a group consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These countries, with the seven largest advanced economies in the world, represent more than 62% of the global net wealth.
Endy Edeson
Update: Trump said he wouldn't endorse a joint communique shortly after leaving the summit. @Maduka & Luc; because China is selfish , they don't want to use products of other countries but they want to force their products to the world .
KayKay BigShow Maduka
Yeah Endy u are ryt. I deal wth them and i knw hw they think. They can be cunning and deceitful too all bcos they want u to patronise their goods. Bt its actually working for them to some extent.
Endy Edeson
@Abdul: How sure are you that China is among? You know, there is a partition in world politics. In Asia, they have there own group called EURASIA or CSO. These Asian group sees the G7 or Western powers as threats and are working to outsmart the. It won't be easy for them though. @Maduka: Exactly
Yaw Kusi Ofosu Evans
They can all go to hell and kiss the devil's lips. The USA should have been punished for what happened in Tripoli. The death of Colonel Mammar Ghadafi.