We have seen in the last few days a flurry of diplomatic activities from heads of states, the kind which the world has not witnessed since 1945. The annual G7 (group of seven industrialised countries – previously G8 before Russia was expelled in 2014 after annexation of Crimea) meeting in Quebec City in Canada ended with a sugar coated communique in spite of the tariff imposed by the USA on steel and aluminium imports from the allies. However, on his way to Singapore, President Trump in a fit of anger withdrew from it with a Tweet which resulted in acrimonious utterances between allies. The message from his action is that greed governs. Civility and concern about others have no place in Trump’s America.
A meeting of SCO8 (Shanghai Co-operation Organisation of Group of eight countries) was held in Qingdao, China. Bharat and Pakistan were opted in the organisation last year and attended as full members for the first time. The SCO is often dubbed as “alliance of Asia” as it represents large area of Eurasia and half the population of the world. It ended amicably and the message from their communique is that progress is through co-operation. Bharat, Pakistan and China has few differences but acted as allies for the progress and prosperity of their people.
The summit between Kim Jong Un of DPRK (North Korea) and Donald Trump of the USA is taking place on Sentosa Island in Singapore on Tuesday 12th June. It will be finished by the time we read these pages with whatever the result. Kim Jong Un is well known for everything repugnant to the civilised world; autocracy, dynastic rule, human right violation, elimination of rivals and many more acts. In spite of all his misdeeds he will be given an opportunity to sit with the world top leader as a statesman. The message from it is that strength is respected and not character. Would the summit have happened if DPRK did not have nuclear weapons and a delivery system?
Narsibhai Patel
New Malden
