Photographer: Simon Dawson / Bloomberg
Photographer: Simon Dawson / Bloomberg
Boris Johnson’s plan to host an extended Group of Seven summit in June worries other members who fear Britain could try to reshape the forum of rich nations through the back door.
The British prime minister has invited South Korea, India and Australia as guests to this year’s meeting, while trying to set up a so-called D-10 coalition of democracies to counter China and other authoritarian states. Johnson wants to promote global action and democratic values and project Britain as a definitive force after leaving the European Union.
Although it is standard practice for a G-7 host to invite more countries to the summit, the involvement of guest nations is usually limited. According to a person familiar with Johnson’s plans, this will change this year with the three countries participating from the beginning, from the preparatory meetings of the leaders’ diplomatic emissaries at the beginning of next month to the ministerial meetings before the summit.
Although diplomats are waiting to understand the full implications, there is some concern Johnson’s D-10 is a step toward restructuring the G-7.
Extending the rear door
Britain’s plan to host an extended G-7 summit worries some members
Source: Bloomberg
One diplomat said a rival group risks weakening the G-7 and that it could eventually increase pressure on the G-7 to expand to regain its lost influence. Enlargement is an idea that Italy, Germany, France and Japan oppose, according to officials familiar with the positions of these governments.
China Risk
Two European diplomats also warned that there was a risk that anti-China rhetoric would encourage a Cold War-style confrontation with Beijing, which they both said the G-7 should avoid after defeating Donald Trump’s attempts. do the same.
One diplomat said there would be doubts within the group as to whether a British idea established for internal reasons would have any sustaining power. The British government did not respond to a request for comment.
The issue of G-7 enlargement is at the heart of questions about the future of the forum and where members’ strategic interests lie, especially in China.
This year’s summit is a chance to mend ties after years of parting in the Trump era. The outgoing US president refused to sign the final summit communiqué in Canada in 2018, while last year’s meeting – which Trump was supposed to host – never took place.
Johnson plans to put issues such as climate change – so undermined by Trump – at the heart of this year’s summit, along with trade, health, the press and religious freedoms and human rights.
Reinsurance
According to diplomats, the other six members of the club welcome these aspirations and also want to cooperate for post-pandemic recovery.
The United Kingdom has also assured that it does not intend to propose changes to the G-7 format and that it will remain distinct from the wider group of Democrats, according to three diplomats familiar with the matter. This has not completely calmed the concerns of G-7 members.
One diplomat said that while there is no immediate prospect of expanding the group, once institutionalized, the D-10 could compete with the G-7 for relevance. Another said Britain needed to consult closely with G-7 members on its plans for the D-10 coalition.
Another official said that some of these concerns are shared, but that the extent of the guest role is not clear and the three countries would not participate in all the preparatory work. The same official also stressed that the enlargement of the G-7 would require unanimity, which will make it unlikely soon.
The Trump effect
The debate over the reformation of the G-7 is not new, and the idea of enlargement was floated by Trump last year. In addition to Australia, South Korea and India, he proposed re-inviting Russia, which was expelled after the annexation of Crimea.
President-elect Joe Biden did not say where the problem was, but he did he said he wanted to convene a summit of democracies once in office.
Prominent voices on both sides of the Atlantic continue to push for the Group of Seven to open its doors to new members.
Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the House of Commons Defense Committee, said this month, an expanded G-7, including Australia, India and South Korea, “may begin to address and reverse the demise of global stability, democratic values and the rule of law.”
Sensitive
The Johnson Agenda has potential connection points beyond the expansion debate. South Korea’s participation is inconvenient for Japan renewed tensions arising from the colonial rule of 1910-1945 over the Korean Peninsula.
British and European diplomats also point to geopolitical differences. A British diplomat said that after leaving the EU, it made economic sense to improve ties with the Asia-Pacific nations, including those in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with 10 members, with which the United Kingdom seeks partnership status and which is, also be invited to the G-7 leaders’ summit.
It should also be seen in the context of a stronger approach to China compared to the EU, the diplomat said. Since the decoupling of the bloc’s trade policy, the United Kingdom has been more open to China and Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, the EU has faced criticism, including from the future Biden administration, for agreeing a trade deal with Beijing. Officials in Brussels and some European capitals argue that trade should be separated from issues that can be addressed using other instruments, such as sanctions.
Two European diplomats said the limited focus on the Asia-Pacific region gave up areas of strategic interest to Europe, including Africa, and ignored regions such as Latin America.