QUEBEC CITY—Donald Trump arrived for the G7 summit Friday and called for Russia to be re-admitted into the group of global leaders after it was booted for annexing Crimea three years ago. Throwing gas onto fires already lit by trade tariffs against his G7 allies, the U.S. president said his recommendation would be to re-admit Russian President Vladimir Putin. Coming on top of his complaints about Canadian dairy quotas and complaints about tariff barriers erected by Europe, Trump left little doubt he was here to re-write the agenda. “It used to be the G8, because Russia was in it, and now Russia’s not in it,” said Trump, speaking to White House reporters before leaving Washington. Invoking his former rival Hillary Clinton, Trump touted how tough he is on Putin: “I have been Russia’s worst nightmare.” “With that being said, Russia should be in this meeting. Why are we having a meeting without Russia being in the meeting? I would recommend, and it’s up to them, but Russia should be in the meeting. It should be a part of it. “It may not be politically correct, but we have a world to run. And, in the G7, which used to be the G8, they threw Russia out. They should let Russia come back in, because we should have Russia at the negotiating table.” The dramatic statements came hours after Trump had tweeted late the night before, targeting Europe and Canada: “Why isn’t the European Union and Canada informing the public that, for years, they have used massive Trade Tariffs and non-monetary Trade Barriers against the U.S. Totally unfair to our farmers, workers & companies. Take down your tariffs & barriers or we will more than match you!” But the very suggestion that Russia could come back in the fold was rejected almost immediately by Canada and European leaders. “On Russia rejoining the G7, our position has not changed,” said Adam Austen, spokesman for Canada’s foreign affairs minister Chrystia Freeland. Trudeau and Freeland have previously opposed Russia rejoining the G7. Trudeau has criticized Putin, saying Russia’s deeds speak volumes about its intentions. Trump’s call to invite Russia back into the group is a bolt out of the blue. In April, leading up to this summit, G7 foreign ministers, including the U.S. Secretary of State, issued a strong joint statement reiterating support for Ukrainian sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and “our non-recognition of Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” “We decry the degraded human rights situation in the peninsula, and the violations and abuses committed against its population by Russia in Crimea.” It would overturn the united action taken by the G7 four years to expel Putin from the table after Russia’s actions to de-stabilize Ukraine. At the 2014 G20 summit in Brisbane, Australia, former Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper directly challenged Putin, telling him to his face “you need to get out of Ukraine.” Since that time G7 members have challenged Russia’s actions in the Middle East, his military support for Syria’s Assad regime and alleged cyber-interference in western elections. Those very topics are on the agenda for discussions in Charlevoix. European Council president Donald Tusk threw cold water on Trump’s inflammatory comments, quipping “seven is a lucky number.” But Tusk also said the tensions within the G7 now are a serious challenge to its unity and effectiveness. “Maybe we should come up with a new slogan,” he said. Tusk and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker told reporters Friday that they believed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had the skill and understanding to stickhandle the touchy talks that would get underway at a working lunch Friday. That’s when the leaders sit down for the start of two sessions on the economy, jobs for the future and creating inclusive growth. Trump has made no secret of his reluctance to come to the Charlevoix summit, and now plans to leave the G7 a few hours early Saturday, after a breakfast with a gender equality advisory council, missing sessions on plastic pollution of the oceans climate change and energy policy. He appears to view the G7 as an opportunity to set his allies straight on trade while seeking their support on North Korea, tweeting Friday: “I am heading for Canada and the G-7 for talks that will mostly centre on the long-time unfair trade practiced against the United States. From there I go to Singapore and talks with North Korea on Denuclearization.” Amidst all this, Trudeau met one-on-one with other leaders. Friday morning, he held meetings with U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May, Japan’s Shinzo Abe, Italy’s Giuseppe Conte, and German leader Angela Merkel. Trudeau meets with Trump late Friday. Trump has left little doubt he has grown impatient with his northern neighbour, tweeting at French President Emmanuel Macron and Trudeau, with his volleys growing increasingly personal towards the Canadian prime minister. Thursday night Trump fired at Trudeau for acting “so indignant” over tariffs. “Prime Minister Trudeau is being so indignant, bringing up the relationship that the U.S. and Canada had over the many years and all sorts of other things … but he doesn’t bring up the fact that they charge us up to 300 per cent on dairy — hurting our Farmers, killing our Agriculture!” |