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The G-7 was a great idea – until it became 1 against 6
As the club that used to represent “the West” concludes its 50th summit by defining success as avoiding a major blow-up by the American guest, one wonders: What’s the point any more?
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These summits, which were made for a world in which America led, have outlived their context.
PHOTO: NYTIMES
Andreas Kluth
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Fifty years ago, it seemed like such a good idea. At the initiative of the West German and French leaders, the six leading industrialised democracies convened their first regular meeting to manage a troubled world – problems included the collapse of the Bretton Woods system, the oil shocks and stagflation. They later became the Group of Seven (G-7), then briefly eight, then seven again. But as this club concludes its latest summit in the Canadian Rockies by defining success merely as avoiding a rage-quit by the American guest, one wonders: What’s the point any more?
The world is on fire from Eastern Europe to the Middle East and beyond, and the G-7 leaders are at odds over how to analyse, let alone solve, any of these conflicts. French President Emmanuel Macron and others want Israel to desist from further escalation against Iran. US President Donald Trump may not have wanted Israel to attack Iran while his own envoy was trying to negotiate a deal with Tehran, but now that the war is under way, he seems fine with Israel finishing the job.
