In Hambourg, G20 Summit kicks off under high tensions

World

Published: 2017-07-07 17:10

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 09:47


German Chancellor Angela Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel

The G20 Summit began today under high tensions with climate change and free trade on the menu for the 19 heads of the richest states and governments, and the European Union, reports the French Le Monde. The summit follows President Donald Trump’s commencement of protectionist politics for Washington, and his decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Accords.

Those in attendance will carry the heavy burden of trying to reach mutually satisfactory resolutions under the current political climate and unease. Initial bilateral meetings took place on Thursday night, preceding the Summit’s commencement, and have shed light on the difficulty of the negotiations that lie ahead.

Le Monde quotes Chancellor Angela Merkel: “As the host country, we will do whatever is within our power to reach compromises”, an hour before her meeting with Trump. The topics of counter-terrorism, North Korea, Syria, and the Ukraine will also be on the table.

The most anticipated meeting in the Summit has been that between Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, which will be a culmination of an extremely oscillating relationship between the two heads of state since January.