Meeting of G7 powers! Many goals, few concrete things

The war in Ukraine is a war for influence and power. Russia wants to change the world order. Western democracies oppose and seek allies. Even at the G7 summit in Elmau, the largest industrialized nations, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Canada and the United States, set out in search of partners and allies. Because not only the Russian attack on Ukraine has made it clear that the world will again be divided into zones of influence and power. Who is next to whom? Who is a friend and who is an enemy?

Competition with China

China is moving forward with all its might in its project to build a new Silk Road, connecting the countries with itself through lending and infrastructure projects such as port construction. The G7 and the EU have long understood this, but have done little against the project. This will change now.

On the first day of the summit, the project “Partnership for Infrastructure and Global Investments” was concretized. An idea that has arisen since the UK held the presidency of the G7 summit, and which has been backed by $ 600 billion. This money is expected to finance projects for infrastructure, climate protection and health in developing countries and countries that are expected to return to industrialized countries. The focal point will be set in Africa, but also other poor countries can participate. The program will continue until 2027.

Aren’t western countries late for this?

“If democracies show what they can offer, then we should not worry about whether or not we win the competition,” said US President Joe Biden. Inviting Indonesia and India to Elmau, the current and future G20 presidency were invited there at the same time. Senegal holds the presidency of the African Union, Argentina holds the presidency of the Association of Latin American and Caribbean Countries.

“As a democracy we see the world the same way and it is good, it is important and necessary that we exchange views with each other,” Scholz said after working meetings with representatives of these countries. “We listen to each other and this creates mutual understanding and facilitates cooperation. “On the issues of climate protection, energy supply and the fight against hunger in the world,” we spoke to each other very well, openly and constructively, “said the German chancellor. “This dialogue is very important and will continue.”

Changes in views remain

The main contentious issue is the attitude towards Russia. When the United Nations condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine in March and urged the Kremlin to end its aggression, India, Senegal and South Africa did not vote. When setting sanctions against Russia, Argentina and Indonesia were not in line with the West. While India imports even more Russian oil than before the war.

The industrialized democratic nations know that despite their economic power, they cannot isolate Russia if other states do not comply with sanctions. But, but these countries do not want to break with Russia also for economic reasons.

Financing of energy from the subject fossils?

The G7 did not only deal with geopolitical goals, but also with resources for the economy. The West must break free from its energy dependence on Russia. Africa has large gas resources, which are not connected to international markets. Senegal can supply liquefied natural gas, and talks are currently under way to exploit a new field of oil wells on the West Africa coast. Russian nickel supplies can be replaced by imports from Indonesia. A country that also has large coal reserves.

Environmentalists have sounded the alarm. “Spending public money on new oil well fields in South Global countries is irresponsible in terms of both development policy and climate policy,” said Dagmar Pruin, president of Bread for the World. After Germany announced during the last climate conference in Glasgow that after 2023 it will no longer invest in energy from fossil fuels, the step back in Elmau is a “historic turning point in climate policy”.

Giving up coal will become slower

Following talks between the G7, the EU and partner countries, the seven largest industrialized nations declared in Elmau that they were ready to fight climate change. But they also want to create security in the power supply. This is about the gradual detachment from coal and the creation of opportunities for the production of “social justice” of renewable energy.

At the end of the statement of the G7 summit is heard the important role of liquefied natural gas, which must be increased in order to overcome potential difficulties, especially in Europe. One version of the statement says public investment in the gas sector is important as a temporary response to the current energy crisis.

At a table with Putin, yes or no?

It will be interesting how the plans for the G20 summit, which is expected to be held in November on the Indonesian island of Bali, will be developed. Along with China, Russia is also part of the G20 group of countries. According to the Russian news agency Tass, President Vladimir Putin plans to attend the G20 summit.

What will the West do? Chancellor Olaf Scholz will decide “shortly before the trip” and regardless of the current situation. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Elmau that she would sit at a table with Putin at the G20 summit. “It’s important that he is told in person what we think of him,” she said

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