Donald Trump’s attitude towards Vladimir Putin could continue with a contingent of bones between the US president and other major allies. The US leader has called for the next G7 summit to be held after the US elections in November and also for the Russian president to run. Washington Times correspondent Henry Zeffman spoke to Times Radio about why this series could be replicated on the world stage.
He told listeners: “It is unclear if this will ever really happen.
“The US will hold the rotating presidency of this club of powerful democracies in the year 2020.
“The summit was supposed to be in June. Understandably because of coronavirus, it has been moved to a teleconference.
“But Trump said he personally wanted it to happen in person and signed several world leaders.”
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Mr. Zeffman continued: “Everyone except Angela Merkel was on board, including Boris Johnson, for a delayed summit in July.
“But just a few days before it was supposed to happen, he told some reporters that the G7 was significant and that other countries needed to be there.
He said he wanted to invite Vladimir Putin and the leaders of Australia, South Africa and India.
“That apparently contradicts the point of the G7, even though there are normally invited guests.”
Russia was kicked out of the group after the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
The UK and Canada have both opposed Russia’s return to the G7.
The Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau said: “Russia was excluded from the G7 after invading Crimea several years ago.
“The continued respect and flaunting of international rules and standards is why it remains outside the G7, and it will continue to do so.”
A spokesman for the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom said he had no intention of vetoing Russia’s inclusion in the group.
