Yes, Europeans and, more broadly, Westerners will forgive me, but their political leaders at meetings with each other more and more often look like a bunch of freaks: grimaces, grimaces, ridiculous gestures. Boris Johnson alone, a fair-haired Turk (who does not know, he has Turkish roots), what is worth! A clear desire to please the public, clowning ... So it was at the last G7 summit, which ended the day before in Cornwall, England. Only Queen Elizabeth II, having appeared for a short time, was strict and calm, reminding vain politicians that there is still dignity and responsibility in the world. And also really people's leaders who do not grimace and look straight in the eyes. As a rule, not in the West.
However, the external tinsel and relaxation of the heads of Western "democracies" (Japan has also learned to look like that under its American boot) hides quite steel political fangs, and this should not be underestimated. The three-day summit clearly served the purpose of mobilizing the West in the face of urgent threats for it: a pandemic and the resulting economic stagnation, dearly beloved global warming there, and an independent policy of other world centers of power. Demonstration of unity, obviously, was necessary after the presidency of Donald Trump, who at the G7 summit in 2019 made it clear with all his behavior that he was dealing with junior partners, and even with subordinates.
The Anglo-Saxons set the tone for the summit. Joe Biden and Boris Johnson had a separate meeting a day before it began, agreed on some kind of renewed Atlantic Charter, and thus took a symbolic first step. The other five G7 members actually joined the American-British alliance. And this is perhaps the key to understanding where London and Washington are heading. After all, the historic Atlantic Charter, born in the summer of 1941, was aimed at describing the world order after the victory of the anti-Hitler coalition. And even if its second edition does not in the least resemble the first, which largely vulgarizes that great story, the fact itself is eloquent. The guys wanted to fight.
With whom? It seems not with Russia. The final communique speaks of our country in a rather conciliatory spirit. They say that the G7 countries are interested in stable and predictable relations with Russia and therefore intend to continue to interact with Moscow in areas of mutual interest. This is a rather unusual rhetoric after many years of defaming the Russian Federation for just modestly following its national interests. However, there was also a fly in the ointment. “We reaffirm our call for Russia to end its destabilizing behavior,” the document says. But we are no strangers. It would be strange if it were different.
The G7 cannot suddenly turn around and abandon unfounded accusations of Russia. The force of inertia. If for many years one has been composing tales about Boshirov and Petrov, mysterious Russian hackers, calling gas supplies a "geopolitical weapon" and even the drunken brawls of one's own military are explained by the intrigues of the Russians (as was the case recently in Estonia with British soldiers), then these myths, despite all of them madness, they will work in their heads for a long time. “Considering that our predictability has been confirmed by years and deeds, it’s up to the G7, which doesn’t have much in this area,” Maria Zakharova said to the “teachers” of Russia.
However, the G7's attempt to establish constructive relations with Russia is obvious.
Since it is hard to believe in the peacefulness of the West, the only real explanation for the new tactics may be the desire to draw us into friendship against a third force - China, which is gaining strength.
Trump tried to do much the same, but the American establishment was not going to outsource their work to an upstart.
Now, having pushed the "impostor" off the throne, they themselves returned to the same line.
It is for this reason that representatives from India, South Korea and Australia were invited to the last summit with Biden, as well as the previous one with Trump.
An anti-Chinese coalition is forming that will vie with Beijing for influence over low- and middle-income countries. To this end, China's Belt and Road program has invented a competitor - an infrastructure initiative called Build Back Better World. True, its success raises doubts. Under the leadership of the “largest democracies”, capital is expected to be mobilized in the areas of climate, health, digital technology and gender equality. The last point is especially pleasing. Sounds like another scam of the First World against the Third World.
Nevertheless, this directly concerns Russia.
After all, China is our strategic ally.
The combination of Russian military power, comparable to the American one, and the rapidly developing Chinese economy, while the second, and very soon the first in the world, coordination of actions in the international arena in the UN Security Council make our alliance extremely effective in curbing the West's ambitions for a new dominance in the world.
To tear Russia away from China is an obvious and obvious task that they set themselves there.
Which way to tear it off?
As in all times, by deception - to seduce with some kind of "friendship", constructive in the hope that Moscow will again believe.
We will not believe it.
A muddy game.
The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.