Not happy…
The G7 summit, which brought together world leaders from Germany, Japan, Canada, the US, Italy, France and the UK, was held in Canada over the weekend and it wasn’t plain sailing for Trump and the other leaders.
Diplomatic relations have never been high on Trump’s list of priorities and this was evident again at the G7 conference where he refused to sign a communique agreed by the other six members and left the conference early.
In a series of tweets after his departure, Trump said the US paid “close to the entire cost of Nato” to protect countries that “rip us off on trade”.
Trump also lashed out at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the country’s trade relationship with America on Sunday as well calling Trudeau “very dishonest and weak”.
PM Justin Trudeau of Canada acted so meek and mild during our @G7 meetings only to give a news conference after I left saying that, “US Tariffs were kind of insulting” and he “will not be pushed around.” Very dishonest & weak. Our Tariffs are in response to his of 270% on dairy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2018
Why should I, as President of the United States, allow countries to continue to make Massive Trade Surpluses, as they have for decades, while our Farmers, Workers & Taxpayers have such a big and unfair price to pay? Not fair to the PEOPLE of America! $800 Billion Trade Deficit…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2018
….And add to that the fact that the U.S. pays close to the entire cost of NATO-protecting many of these same countries that rip us off on Trade (they pay only a fraction of the cost-and laugh!). The European Union had a $151 Billion Surplus-should pay much more for Military!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2018
….Germany pays 1% (slowly) of GDP towards NATO, while we pay 4% of a MUCH larger GDP. Does anybody believe that makes sense? We protect Europe (which is good) at great financial loss, and then get unfairly clobbered on Trade. Change is coming!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2018
The actions of Trump have been severely criticised by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron’s office released a statement which said: “International co-operation cannot be dictated by fits of anger and throwaway remarks.
“We spend two days working out a [joint] statement and commitments. We are sticking to them and whoever reneges on them is showing incoherence and inconsistency.
“Let’s be serious and worthy of our people. We make commitments and keep them.”
It’s understood that Trump suggested inviting the ousted Russia back to the conference, restoring the summit eight members.
However, the move was rejected by the other members. The G7 is meant to be a gathering of stable democracies with large economies. Russia was previously a member but was evicted from the summits because it occupied and annexed the territory of its neighbour.
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