Photographer: Simon Dawson / Bloomberg
Photographer: Simon Dawson / Bloomberg
Boris Johnson’s plan to host a comprehensive Group of Seven Summit in June has worried some other members who fear the UK is trying through the back door to reshape the forum of rich countries.
The British Prime Minister has invited South Korea, India and Australia as guests to this year’s rally as he seeks to create a so-called D-10 coalition of democracies to counter China and other authoritarian states. Johnson wants to be an advocate for global action and democratic values, and to profile the UK as a force for good after leaving the European Union.
While it is standard for a G-7 host to invite more countries to the summit, the involvement of host countries is usually limited. According to a person familiar with Johnson’s plans, that will change this year with the three countries participating from the start, from preparatory meetings of the leaders’ diplomatic envoys early next month to ministerial meetings ahead of the summit.
While diplomats are waiting to understand the full implications, there is some concern that Johnson’s D-10 is a step toward restructuring the G-7.
Back door extension
The UK’s plan to host a comprehensive G-7 summit is worrying some members
Source: Bloomberg
A diplomat said a rival faction is at risk of weakening the G-7, and that this could ultimately increase pressure on the G-7 to expand to regain its lost influence. Enlargement is an idea that Italy, Germany, France and Japan are against, say officials familiar with the positions of those governments.
China Risk
Two European diplomats also warned there is a risk that anti-Chinese rhetoric will fuel a Cold War-style standoff with Beijing, both of whom said the G-7 should avoid this after Donald Trump’s attempts to do the same. had beaten away.
A diplomat said there would be doubts within the group as to whether a British idea created for domestic reasons would have any lasting power. The UK government did not respond to a request for comment.
The issue of expanding the G-7 gets to the heart of questions about the future of the forum and where the strategic interests of its members lie, especially in China.
This year’s summit is an opportunity to mend ties after years of splintering in the Trump era. The outgoing US president declined to sign the end-of-summit communiqué in Canada in 2018, while last year’s rally – which Trump was supposed to host – never took place.
Johnson plans to put issues such as climate change – so undermined by Trump – at the center of this year’s summit, along with trade, health, press and religious freedoms, and human rights.
Reassurance
According to diplomats, the other six members of the club welcome those ambitions and also want to participate in the recovery after a pandemic.
The UK has also assured members that it has no plans to propose changes to the G-7 format and that it will stand out from the wider group of democracies, said three diplomats familiar with the matter. That has not completely allayed the concerns of G-7 members.
One of the diplomats said that while there is no immediate prospect of group expansion, once institutionalized the D-10 could compete with the G-7 for relevance. Another said the UK should consult closely with G-7 members about its plans for the D-10 coalition.
Another official said some of those concerns are shared, but the full role of the guests is not clear and the three countries would not participate in all of the preparatory work. The same official also pointed out that the expansion of the G-7 requires unanimity, making it unlikely to happen any time soon.
Trump effect
The debate about reformatting the G-7 isn’t new, and the expansion idea was floated by Trump last year. In addition to Australia, South Korea and India, he suggested re-inviting Russia, which was expelled after the annexation of Crimea.
President-elect Joe Biden has not stated where he stands on the matter, but he has said he wants 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 Defense Committee of the House of Commons, said this month, a comprehensive G-7 with Australia, India and South Korea can “begin to address and reverse the loss of global stability, democratic values and the rule of law”.
Sensitive
Johnson’s agenda has potential bottlenecks outside of the expansion debate. Japan is difficult, given South Korea’s participation renewed tensions resulting 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 makes economic sense to improve ties with countries in Asia and the Pacific, including those of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with whom the UK is seeking partnership status and which is also expected to be invited to the G-7 Leaders Summit.
It should also be seen in the context of a more robust approach to China compared to that of the EU, the diplomat said. Since decoupling the bloc’s trade policy, Britain has become more outspoken on China and Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, the EU has come under criticism, including from the incoming Biden government, for reaching a trade deal with Beijing. Officials in Brussels and some European capitals believe that trade should be kept separate from issues that can be tackled by other instruments, such as sanctions.
Two European diplomats said the limited focus on the Asia-Pacific region relegates areas of strategic importance to Europe, including Africa, and ignores regions such as Latin America.