Leaders of the Group of Seven nations yesterday tried to agree on emergency measures to combat the Amazon fires and to revive the global economy, which is slowed by the trade war between Washington and Beijing, which seems difficult to achieve.
But yesterday began with a highly anticipated scene, the first meeting between US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, since taking office in the UK amid the Brexit crisis.
During the meeting, Trump expressed his support for Johnson, describing him as "the right man" to implement the Brexit. He also announced the possibility of a "very fast" trade agreement with Britain.
Johnson, for his part, congratulated Trump on the strength of the US economy and said Britain supported a "trade peace" and free trade amid rising tensions between the United States and China.
On Saturday, Johnson said he regretted the "big obstacles" to British exports to the United States, calling on Trump to lift them so that the two countries could conclude a free trade agreement after Britain's exit from the European Union. After this morning breakfast meeting, Trump and Johnson joined French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, outgoing Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss global security and the economy.
In recent weeks, worrying signs have emerged in Germany, China and the United States that have raised fears of a marked weakness in global growth.
"rapprochement"
Europeans and Japanese blamed partly for the sluggish growth of the trade war fought by Washington and Beijing, fueled by Friday's announcement of new tariffs.
"The trade tension is bad for everyone," Macron warned, summarizing the general concern.
In particular, he sought to convince Trump not to impose tariffs on French wine in response to the Paris decision to tax the US technology giant or GAVA (Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple). Macron tried to defuse tensions with his US counterpart during a two-hour long lunch on Saturday on the terrace of the luxury Hotel de Palais overlooking the big beach of Biarritz.
The Elysee Palace said the debate "created the conditions for a good level of rapprochement within the G7, by getting clarifications from Donald Trump" on key issues. He explained that this includes points of consensus and controversy, with the priority that this summit, which is condemned by some of the public opinion, «useful».
"A lot of good things happen to our two countries," Trump wrote in a tweet. "An important weekend with other leaders from the world."
Help Amazon
Commanders are supposed to agree more easily on participation, especially in material terms, in fighting the fires that devour the Amazon. They are supposed to help not only Brazil, but Chile, whose president, Sebastian Penera, has been invited to Biarritz. Other topics for discussion include the Iranian nuclear issue, the fight against inequality and partnership with Africa, with other leaders, including India, Australia and six African countries, according to the sessions. Macron, Merkel and Burkina Faso President Roche Marc Christian Kabouré will speak to the press about the Sahel crisis.
«Encircling»
Tens of kilometers away, opponents of the G7 summit do not intend to stop mobilizing, having held a counter-summit at the weekend. Thousands of them marched quietly from Indai to the Spanish border town of Irun, demanding a "fairer" world and a "more protected" environment.
Hundreds of people also took to the streets of Bayonne, despite heavy police deployments that briefly used water cannons and tear gas to disperse them.
Opponents of the summit organized a "march of pictures" in Bayonne yesterday, during which all Macron images taken from municipalities will be collected. Seven "peaceful gatherings" will take place during the day in cities adjacent to Biarritz to symbolically "encircle" the G7 summit.
Meanwhile, the first ladies, including Melania Trump, headed by Brigitte Macron, are heading to the Basque Country, especially the town of Espilita, known for its chili pepper.
The summit will conclude this afternoon, and Macron is expected to review the highlights during an interview with the channel «France 2» at 8 pm.
In recent weeks, worrying signs have emerged in Germany, China and the United States that have raised fears of a marked weakness in global growth.