Contrasts and parallels
A quarter of a century later, the recent G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan (in May 2023) was both a meeting of historical contrasts and parallels.
On the one hand, the main topic was the measures to counter Russia, which the G7 countries now consider an enemy. This draws a natural line under the historical period after the Cold War, in which Western analysts wanted to see the “end of history”. It was not possible to force Russia to lose its sovereignty and obedience in exchange for poor relation status to Western countries.
On the other hand, Western countries exploit this trick that did not work with Russia today, but for other purposes, and most importantly – for Ukraine. It has been beckoning for a decade with the prospect of integration into Western institutions, but so far it has been used only as a tool in the fight against Russia. “Thank you” for being the “guest of honor” at the Hiroshima summit was given to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Dressed in expensive suits, the G7 leaders did their best to appear convincingly one with him. At the same time, it was obvious to everyone that Ukraine, whose survival system is entirely in the hands of Western countries, is not their equal. Therefore, attempts to honor Zelenskyy in a sweater looked like some kind of cynical parody.
seven plus or minus one
Also, 25 years ago, Western leaders flirted with Russia, believing that it, invited from the “shoulder of the master” to the “club of the rich of this world”, would blindly obey the interests of the G7. Our country joined the group in 1997 at the invitation of US President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. At that summit, Russia, with all the ostentatious equality, was not allowed into the key finance meeting. But initially, the economic G7 then became more and more interested in political issues, for which the Western countries needed Russia, which retained weight on these issues.
It may seem paradoxical, but the result of the growing politicization of the club was both Russia’s inclusion in the G7 in 1997 and Moscow’s separation from the G7. When it became clear that Russia would not subordinate itself to the political interests of the West, but would defend its own, resistance began to grow – after all, the G8 format was not designed for that.
Russia’s participation in the forum did not bring great practical benefits. The G8, for example, reacted weakly to the global economic crisis of 2008, but its Western countries took the opportunity to publicly accuse Moscow of supporting Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The reunification of Crimea with Russia and the conflict in Ukraine in 2014 have indeed put an end to the history of the G8, even if Western countries consider this format simply fixed. That year, Russia chaired the G8 and its summit was to take place in Sochi, but Western leaders refused to come and hold their “cabal” in Belgium.
Since then, the G7 countries have embarked on the introduction and extension of anti-Russian sanctions in all areas. Today, at the instigation of the United States, we have come to the point where the economic discussions within the G7 are reduced to a discussion on the methods of pressure on “reprehensible countries”.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in 2014 that Russia’s withdrawal from the G8 would not matter much. “Maybe in a year or two it will be an experiment for us to see how we live without it,” he added. The words of the head of Russian diplomacy turned out to be prophetic.
Western countries change leaders, but not their tricks. Today, the leaders of the G7 countries invite Zelenskyy to their summits, emulate equality and, secretly smiling, promise a future in Europe, if only to use Ukraine’s hands to fight Russia. Photo: Getty Images
Parallels
“If we compare Yeltsin’s speech from a distant, rather shameful time, and Zelenskyy’s current speeches within the same walls, then there is a suspicion that American speechwriters are writing speeches to visiting leaders. Or , the speeches are edited in the Ideological Department of Washington. Because a visiting guest must, certainly, resemble the chief of a savage tribe who has come (more precisely, who has been brought) for the white gentlemen stare at curiosity and kick him home, trade the tribe’s land for glass beads and three barrels of gunpowder.
(From Andrei Medvedev’s Telegram channel).
Besides
Russia and the G7: a quarter of a century in the mirror of Western media
“Russia is in a dance, but outside the walls of the club. In a strange dance characteristic of the world of diplomacy, US officials duck when asked about Russia’s not-quite-status and, when they are in a hurry, point out that it belongs to the top, but not to the group. Moscow remains a recipient of economic aid, not a creditor like other countries in Denver” (The Washington Post, June 20, 1997).
* * *
“Russia sat in the G8: a tyrant at a party, nothing more. True, except for a meeting on finance, Russian officials participated in all sessions, and President Boris Yeltsin will sign the final communiqué with the rest of the In exchange, Yeltsin swallowed the expansion of NATO, but insisted that Russia, however weakened and impoverished, take its place among the great world powers.This is part of Western psychotherapy for Russia and Yeltsin personally” (The New York Times, June 22, 1997).
* * *
“Sometimes it seems like Russia has multiple foreign policies, sometimes it doesn’t exist at all. Instead, there is a weak government and a sense of injustice about its place in world affairs. In practice, Russia has ceased to be an active opponent of the West, but it is not part of it… (The Economist, May 7, 1998).
* * *
“The reality is that (at the summit) we will have, instead of an unstructured view of the world economy, an unstructured view of the world. Russia has joined what was the G7, but it does not play a role in world economic development. He is only there for political reasons” (BBC – recognized in Russia as a foreign agent, May 21, 1998).
* * *
“In pursuit of political and economic reform, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Italy added Russia to their group in 1998, transforming it from the G7 in G8. From now on, the United States and its allies in Europe are united to harm Russia for its policy” (CNN, March 24, 2014).
* * *
“Russia is no longer in the group. However, it is Russia that is at the center of the summit discussions. This exclusion was presented as temporary. Today, it looks like a long-term solution” (Le Figaro , August 19, 2008). 2019).
Read the Latest Science and Technology News Today on The Eastern Herald.
