“We must stand united, we must ensure that we all stick together,” Biden said after meeting the host, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, ahead of the meeting with all participants, which began on Sunday.
Scholz replied that the message that set the tone for the meeting was important:
– We have stood united, something that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin did not count on.
Except for Germany and US leaders are attended by heads of government from France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada and Japan, as well as representatives from the EU.
In a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson emphasized the importance of not giving in to Putin’s war of aggression.
“There is a risk that Putin will get an approval to manipulate sovereign states and international markets forever,” Johnson warned according to the news agency AFP.
As tradition dictates, they all gathered for a common group image; once again, Putin was the protagonist despite his absence. And Western leaders did not hesitate to mock the Russian president.
– Jacket on, jacket off? Boris Johnson wondered, referring to the many propaganda images of Putin showing himself bare-chested.
– We will now ride bare-chested on horseback, added the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau.
Before the beginning of the meeting came word that the leaders of the seven countries have agreed to stop importing gold from Russia, as part of the already broad sanctions regime aimed at Moscow.
Ahead of the meeting, the American news agency Bloomberg reported that Russia may need to cancel its debt repayments abroad on Sunday. But the German government states that you can pay.
More topics are discussed when the leaders meet at Elmau Castle, an isolated and opulent facility with soft, flamboyant fields leading to the Alps’ sharply cut horizon.
According to preliminary information, Russia’s and China’s growing interest in expanding its presence in the third world, as well as the need to meet the problems of an escalating energy crisis, will be discussed.
Biden’s proposal will bring about an investment of the equivalent of SEK 6,100 billion by 2027 to, among other things, counter Chinese investments in poorer countries. But unlike Chinese investment, the G7 countries rely on support from private investors.
Meetings of the G7 countries surrounded by widespread protests from human rights organizations and environmental movements. About 18,000 police officers are protecting the leaders. But the organizers of the protests were disappointed as only 4,000 gathered before the opening of the meeting.
When the G7 countries met at the same castle in 2015, 35,000 protesters gathered. The reduced willingness to protest this year is believed to be due to the Russian invasion war in Ukraine.
That is one of the differences in a changing world. In addition, all the leaders of the G7 countries have been replaced since the last meeting in Elmau – unlike the Kremlin where Vladimir Putin remains.
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