Several
experienced international analysts raised the issue before the meeting: is the
G7 still relevant? They had in mind last year’s messy summit in Canada, as well
as the fact that there are serious divergences within the group, particularly
with President Trump’ views, not to mention that these countries have lost
weight in the world economy. They barely represent about 40% of the global
output, much less than when the G7 was established, over twenty years ago.
Many
concluded that the G7 Summit had outlived its usefulness. That the summit was
no longer justified.
My
opinion has gone in the opposite direction. I wrote in my Portuguese language
blog that such meetings are still advisable. They can help. Summits give an
opportunity for eye contact between the leaders. That is important,
particularly at a time when so much power is concentrated in so few hands. We
live in a period that considers electoral legitimacy almost absolute, even
beyond established rules and practises. I am against such an approach, but the
fact of the matter is that we see leaders of our democracies claiming levels of
authority that come close to personal autocratic rule. In such circumstances,
personal contact can make a difference. Leaders must meet frequently.
The
G7 is one such opportunity.
This
time, the expectations were relatively low.
But
the summit in Biarritz, France, went well beyond the expectations. It has been
a better meeting than we had anticipated. The final press conference, that
brought together the French and the US Presidents, has showed that the dialogue
avenues are not closed. Both Presidents did well when responding to the media. We
could see the differences of opinion between them, but they were dealt with tact.
One
could say that much of the success achieved during the summit must be put to the
credit of Emmanuel Macron. That is to a large measure true. He has been able to
navigate the very difficult matters that were on the table as well as the unique
egos in the room. It would be unfair not to recognise President Macron’s ability
and efforts. However, there is more to it. The issues on the agenda are too big
and complex – we have undoubtedly a very delicate mix of global problems. And
global means global, when it comes to the negatives of such issues. The mood,
when discussing them, could only be a serious one. Even in the case of those
leaders that tend to see the world from their own very narrow prism. That’s not
bad.