SUNDAY 25 AUGUST 2019The G7 summit is Johnson’s
first serious challenge as PM
In our series on life at The Independent, political editor Andrew
Woodcock says Biarritz could force the new prime minister to confront
some of the harsh realities of Brexit
This weekend’s G7 summit in the French beach resort of Biarritz is Boris Johnson’s
first major outing on the global stage as prime minister. He is hoping to use the
opportunity to stake the UK’s claim to a prominent place in world affairs after
Brexit.Since Johnson came to power a little over a month ago, British politics has been understandably fixated on
his approach to EU withdrawal and his willingness to drive the UK over the cliff of a no-deal Brexit. But his
trips to Berlin and Paris this week have had the effect of taking the spotlight off Brexit for the time being,
giving him the chance to try to direct people’s attention to the future beyond 31 October.
He will insist that, far from retreating into its Little England shell after Brexit, the UK will be an
“international, outward-looking, self-confident nation” with a big part to play in dealing with the problems
of the world.
Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron made no concessions to the British prime minister’s demands for a
rewrite of the withdrawal agreement. Merkel’s much-debated 30-day deadline amounted to little more than
telling him: “If you’ve got a workable plan for the Irish border, let’s see it.” But their indication of
willingness to talk has neutralised the issue for the duration of the summit at least, with his talks with
European Council president Donald Tusk thought unlikely to deliver a breakthrough.
The Trump meeting will be the high point of the summit for Johnson. It is
their first face-to-face encounter since Johnson became prime minister
Tusk aside, Johnson’s schedule of meetings during the three-day gathering reads like a wish list of partners
for possible future trade deals, with talks planned not only with US president Donald Trump, but also
India’s Narendra Modi, Canada’s Justin Trudeau, Japan’s Shinzo Abe and Australia’s Scott Morrison.
The Trump meeting today will be the high point of the summit for Johnson. The pair have talked on the
phone several times over the past month, but it is their first face-to-face encounter since Johnson became
prime minister. Some reports suggest that the opportunity to talk to Johnson in person is Biarritz’s main
attraction for Trump, who has been vocal in his praise for the new prime minister.