Even though President Joe Biden and his counterparts unveiled a number of ambitious ideas during the summit meeting that concluded on Saturday, the harsh truth is that many of the leaders might not be in government long enough to see them through to completion.
The agreements made over the last several days about Ukraine’s defense are in jeopardy because of a far-right, populist movement that is sweeping through Europe and the United States and threatening to overthrow Biden and some of his closest friends.
The customary “family photo” captured during the Group of Seven (G7) meeting of the richest democracies primarily shows a beleaguered group of world leaders who have lost favor with some of their supporters. Much of what they produced in southern Italy would be available to successors to destroy if they so desired.
Biden’s approval rating is in the mid 40s, according to an April NBC News poll, and he is currently tied with former President Donald Trump. Ukraine will lose its most important ally in preventing Russian President Vladimir Putin from taking over the nation if he is defeated in November.
The centrist president of France, Emmanuel Macron, recently announced early elections, raising the possibility that the extreme right might seize control of the legislature and compel him to agree to a power-sharing plan.
This month’s European elections witnessed victories by right-wing forces in Germany, casting doubt on the chances of moderate leader Olaf Scholz becoming chancellor.
Prior to the summit, Josh Lipsky, senior director of the GeoEconomics Center at the Atlantic Council, stated, “This is the final meeting this group will have with these leaders in this arrangement.” “Everything emphasizes the gravity of the situation and the importance of the G7. It also reminds me of [my] last opportunity to take a major action before things drastically shift.
Members have no desire to draw attention to the weakness of the G7 leadership. Reporters were informed by a senior Biden administration official that discussions about “our election” were off-topic. Still, the global elections cast a shadow over the proceedings.
The much-discussed 10-year security agreement between the United States and Ukraine that was disclosed on Thursday may be reduced to a seven-month alliance based on the results of the 2024 presidential election.
The agreement was ceremoniously signed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, and Joe Biden before to their joint news conference on Thursday evening. They each signed a document in front of TV cameras, then passed it to the other person across the table so he could sign it.
However, if a different president so desires, he or she may sever ties with the alliance. Under the terms of the agreement, either the United States or Ukraine may withdraw from the agreement by giving the other advance notice.
If Biden prevails, that is unlikely to occur, but Trump is a bigger wild card. He has declared that he would put an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in a day if elected.
Zelenskyy expressed his worries about it being feasible. According to Mike Pence, the former vice president of Trump, the only way his former boss could pull it off would be if he gave up to Putin.
The schedule of elections is on the minds of the G7 leaders. In the event that Biden loses, several of the agreements appeared to be intended to “Trump-proof” foreign policy.
The leaders of the meeting also pledged to lend Ukraine $50 billion to aid in the country’s reconstruction and defense against Russia. This year, the funds will be sent to Ukraine and are secured by around $300 billion in frozen Russian assets. Biden administration officials stated that the United States is ready to provide the full amount of the loan if needed.
Time is of the essence. In the event that Trump wins, the money will have already been taken by Ukraine before he takes office on January 20, 2025.
Nevertheless, Biden won’t be able to secure US backing for Ukraine if Trump decides to revert to his previous foreign policy, given the enormous powers of the presidency.
Alexander Vindman, a former Trump White House director of European relations, declared that “Trump-proofing” is unreal. “That is a false impression. If the president of the United States holds a completely different worldview, you cannot succeed.
Nearing his rematch with Biden, the G7 and other international leaders are paying more attention to the nearly four years since Trump left office. As president, he frequently clashed with enduring American friends, some of whom doubted his dedication to a post-World War II order based on democratic nation-state alliances.
“When I visit foreign countries, our friends and allies always ask me, ‘What will happen?'” Is America still dedicated to international participation based on rules?John Kelly, a former chief of staff to President Trump who parted ways with him, stated. “They inquire about our forthcoming election as well as what the former president might do to keep America involved in the world if re-elected.”
Kelly went on, “I will go over the options, but I always conclude that most Americans realize how wise it is to remain engaged globally, cooperating with friends, partners, and allies to prevent war and uphold peace.”
According to NBC News, Ben Hodges, a former commander of the US Army in Europe, “most foreign policy discussions with our allies include the grim possibility of a Trump return.” Because they don’t trust Trump, none of them want to see him back.
Regarding Biden, Trump aimed to present him as a devalued person who brought shame to the United States during his attendance at the meeting.
At his 78th birthday celebration on Friday in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump brought up an earlier event from the previous day when Biden and the other G7 leaders got together to see a demonstration of skydiving.
The Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, intervened to stop Biden from wandering away from his colleagues in a video that went viral.
“Italy’s new leader did a great job,” stated Trump. “You fool, turn around,” she uttered. They no longer show respect for our nation.
The video was actually cropped. From a broader perspective, it was evident that Biden had simply approached a skydiver who had just landed and offered a congrats.
Making the most of the summit—which, depending on the results of the election, might be Biden’s last—was his choice. The granddaughters Maisy, Finnegan, and Naomi, who gave testimony during her father Hunter Biden’s Wilmington, Delaware trial, were part of his entourage.
A private meeting between the president and Pope Francis on Friday could be considered a high point of the trip. When asked if Biden’s grandchildren went with him, White House staff did not answer.
Being a devout Catholic, Biden has shown his respect for the pope, referring to him as “the most important peace fighter I’ve ever encountered.”
For Biden, faith has always been a haven. As he and his family are coming to terms with Hunter’s conviction, the pope pays them a visit. What was discussed in the discussion has not been made public by Biden.
He told reporters, “It went well.”