Seven nations and China

The group of seven summit in June was refreshingly dull. Leaders were careful to project a sense of stability to the world while playing to their domestic audiences with a semi-combative stance. Following the tense relationship with President Trump in recent years, the 47th edition of the meeting painted a classic picture of back-slapping composure among participants.

The rendezvous in Cornwall, however, was not merely a post-trump event and the nations wanted primarily to project a credible front against the backdrop of an emerging China. Standing as a clear alternative to Beijing’s socialist system, the group of seven wanted to show the world that economic development in their countries is a direct result of their liberal democratic credentials.

The summit reaffirmed a belief in transatlantic cooperation as a global force for development. Leaders of the club members did their best to portray a confident, unified voice and spoke directly to the rest of the world, declaring a commitment towards vaccine donations and climate action.

Divergence between the countries, though, were bubbling just beneath the surface. Italy was not prepared to sever ties with China, even if premier Mario Draghi said he would review the agreement signed by his predecessor. German Chancellor Angela Merkel remained unwilling to walk back from the Nord Stream 2 project with Russia. On the other hand, Canada’s Justin Trudeau and America’s Joe Biden were meeting while the company behind the Keystone XL pipeline from Alberta to Nebraska announced the cancellation of the project. Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga seemed more interested in securing support for the Tokyo Olympics while French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sparred over the fallout from Brexit.