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G7 Summit Excludes Russia & China |
| By
Stephen Lendman |
| The self-styled seven major industrialized democracies are profoundly
undemocratic - Russia excluded since 2014 over nonexistent aggression in
Ukraine. The world’s second largest economy, China, certain to become its dominant one, isn’t invited. Since the 1980s, the EU has been represented as a “nonenumerated” participant. It’s Trump’s maidan G7 involvement, his last stop on a foreign trip begun last weekend, ending with two days in Sicily. He and other G7 leaders will discuss phony war on terrorism, aggressive ones on Syria and other targeted nations, possible one on North Korea, environment policies, trade and other economic and financial issues. White House chief economic advisor/former Goldman Sachs president and CEO Gary Cohn acknowledged Trump calling Germany “very bad” for flooding America with its cars. Der Spiegel quoted him in Brussels with NATO leaders, saying “(t)he Germans are bad, very bad. Look at the millions of cars they sell in the US…(W)e’ll stop that.” In a January interview with German broadsheet Bild, he said “(y)ou can build cars for the United States, but for every car that comes to the USA, you will pay a 35% tax.” Germany has a huge trade surplus with America. So do China, Japan and other countries. Trump isn’t likely to change things despite his rhetoric. It’s not an issue with US corporate giants operating globally, locating plants in low-wage countries, why America’s manufacturing base eroded to where it is now. In 2016, the US trade deficit in goods was $734 billion. Cohn said expect “robust discussion” on this issue with other G7 leaders. Last year, Russia bashing was featured, irresponsibly blaming Putin for US-orchestrated/Kiev aggression on Donbass. G7 countries are belligerents, Russia the world’s preeminent peacemaker - against violence and instability, going all-out for resolving conflicts diplomatically, bashed for opposing America’s imperial agenda. This year’s summit began ceremonially at an ancient Greek theater. Warships patrolled. Fighter jets flew overhead. Talks are being held in San Domenico Palace, a one-time Dominican monastery, now a luxury five-star hotel. G7 summits produce lots of talk and photo-ops, little action, this year likely little different from previous ones. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. |