Trump suggestion that Russia be included in the G7 again may fall on deaf ears, as Theresa May has already come out against it:
NY POST – UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday slammed President Trump’s proposal to let Russia rejoin the Group of 7 — saying that Vladimir Putin’s “malign activity” had continued after the annexation of Crimea.
“I have always said we should engage with Russia but my phrase is ‘engage but beware’” she said.
“We should remind ourselves why the G8 became the G7, it was because Russia illegally annexed Crimea. We have seen malign activity from Russia in a whole variety of ways, of course including on the streets of Salisbury in the UK,” she said referring to the poisoning of a Russian spy turned double agent and his daughter, which the Brits have blamed on Putin.
“So we need to say, I think, before any such conversations can take place, Russia needs to change its approach.”
Yes, not only have we had the annexation of Crimean, but the interference in the 2016 election and then more recent Russian poisonings in the UK.
Well Trump did say it was up to the members, so my guess is his suggestion isn’t going anywhere fast.
May also blasted Trump’s recent trade tariffs:
“I made my views clear on the steel and aluminum tariffs that President Trump has announced, I have done that directly to him. My most recent conversation with him was on Monday this week. We disagree with these, we think they’re unjustified,” she said.
“Obviously the European Union will be responding. We want to ensure, and we’re working with others in the European Union to ensure, that this response is proportionate, that it is within the WTO rules,” she continued, referring to retaliatory tariffs the EU slapped on hundreds of American goods.
“As the UK, we want to be a great champion of free trade around the world and that’s what we will continue to be. I will continue to put the argument for the importance of those trade relationships around the world and I’ll be doing that here at the G7 as I have done elsewhere and will continue to do elsewhere,” May said.
Unjustified. Well on that we agree.