“It's good for world security”: Trump admitted Russia's invitation to the G7

US President Donald Trump admitted Russia's invitation to the next G7 summit. The American leader mentioned this at a press conference following the summit of an international organization in Biarritz.

Answering another question, Trump said that his words should not be taken as a statement about the invitation of Russia to the summit, which the United States will host in 2020.

At the same time, the American leader talked about the advantages of Russia's presence at the forum and a return to the G8 format, which ceased to exist in 2014 shortly after the reunification of Crimea and the Russian Federation.

In particular, according to Trump, Russia's participation in the international forum can be beneficial for a number of reasons.

“I really think it's good for world security, it's good for the global economy,” Trump suggested.

According to the American president, he does not think about the political consequences of his possible decision to invite Russia to the summit.

“I don’t care about the political side, I don’t care, but many do not understand this,” Trump said, noting that Russia was a member of the forum before.

Later, according to the head of the White House, “a lot of events” took place with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US leader Barack Obama. Trump said that in this situation, Putin “outplayed” Obama, after which he wanted to push Russia outside the G8.

Commenting on Trump’s words about his readiness to invite the Russian Federation, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies Vladimir Bruter suggested that the American president really has such intentions, but the outcome will determine his changeable mood and the upcoming elections

“Trump really has intentions, but we don’t know what will happen next year, because it will be the year before the election, in just two months, Trump’s mood may change over this year. There can be two scenarios: he will consider that it is toxic for him and will not invite him, or he will consider that this will not hinder him in any way, and will invite him, ”the expert believes.

In addition, the American president admitted that Russia would accept an invitation to return to the G8 club if such an initiative came in. According to Trump, the Russian Federation is better to be a member of the group.

“I know one thing: if they were invited to return, they would be there. But if it weren’t, then it’s also OK. I just think that it is better for them to be in (a group. - RT ) than outside (her. - RT ), ”the head of the White House believes.

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Thus, he commented on the question of a journalist, who, in turn, mentioned the recent statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The minister said that Moscow did not and is not going to make any calls regarding the possibility of returning the G8 format with the participation of the Russian Federation.

“We have not made any appeals to this effect and are not going to do it. Life already, in general, has gone far ahead. We, as President Putin said in Berganson, do not shy away from contacts with countries that are part of the "group of seven." But the main issues are being resolved now, nevertheless, if we take the global economy and world politics, including financial, they are resolved in the "group of twenty," Lavrov said.

Director of the Center for European Information, Associate Professor of MGIMO, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nikolai Topornin, in an interview with RT, noted that in the discussion around Russia's return to the G8, it should be conducted in the light of Lavrov’s statement.

“Russia in no way seeks by all means to return to the G8,” the expert noted. He urged to pay attention to the quality in which they can invite Russia.

“Either we are talking about the full-scale participation of Russia in the G8, or as a guest. Let me remind you that at this summit there were invited guests and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran. Such a status will not suit Putin, ”said Topornin.

The invitation as a guest does not suit either Putin or Russia, the expert believes. In his opinion, the status of a guest indicates "insufficient democracy" to participate in the work of "the richest and most developed countries of the world."

“In this context, Trump can say anything, but I doubt that Putin will go as a guest,” the expert concluded.

He suggested that Trump would prefer to invite Putin and talk, many issues require the participation of Russia, for example, Iran, Syria and the Donbass.

“On the other hand, he understands that Putin may not accept this invitation,” the expert summed up.

Recall, at the G7 summit in France, the leaders of the G7 countries failed to come to a common position on the possible return of Russia to the group. According to a number of media reports, Trump came up with the idea to return Moscow and switch to the G8 format, but he was supported only by the outgoing Prime Minister of Italy, Giuseppe Conte. The rest opposed, and Japan abstained.

Note that later French President Emmanuel Macron said that no consensus was reached between the G7 leaders regarding the invitation of Russia to the next summit of this organization. Some leaders, notably Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, opposed Russia's return to the forum.

Against this background, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe suggested that Russia should be involved in a dialogue with the G7.

“The leaders of countries with great responsibility are engaged in a serious dialogue and are trying to work out solutions to various international problems. This is what the G7 Summit is. And for this, constructive involvement of Russia is necessary, ”TASS quoted the Japanese Prime Minister as saying.

Speaking about Trump’s behavior in this situation, Adalbi Shkhagoshev, a member of the State Duma’s Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption, suggested that Trump expressed an idea that other state leaders could not afford.

“The pragmatic Trump voiced the fact that other Western leaders cannot afford it. Apparently, in the absence of a common “enemy”, the G7 format itself is in danger of collapse, ”the deputy suggested.