G7 Summit Latest Updates: Joe Biden, World Leaders Gathering in Cornwall
To kick off his meeting with European allies at the Group of Seven (G7) summit, President Joe Biden had his first visit with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday.
After their meeting, the two leaders highlighted the special relationship between their countries, as well as Western nations' commitment to defending democracy.
"We affirmed the special relationship—it's not said lightly—the special relationship between our people," Biden said. "We renewed our pledge to defend the enduring democratic values that both of our nations share that are the strong foundation of our partnership."
Johnson described the Biden administration as "a breath of fresh air."
Issues concerning Brexit and Northern Ireland shadowed the meeting. Biden opposed the U.K.'s exit from the European Union and is concerned about the future of Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K.
However, Johnson said that upholding the Good Friday Agreement, a peace deal that ended sectarian violence in Northern Ireland 23 years ago, was "absolute common ground" for the U.K., the U.S. and the European Union.
"There's a complete harmony on the need to keep going, find solutions and make sure we uphold the Belfast Good Friday Agreement," Johnson said.
The two leaders also signed a new Atlantic Charter "building on the commitments and aspirations set out 80 years ago" by predecessors Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.
The new document reaffirms unity behind shared principles of freedom, sovereignty and sustainability and the peaceful resolution of disputes. It also commits to countering "those who seek to undermine our alliances and institutions."
Johnson also announced that the G7 leaders will pledge to share 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine with poorer countries, including several African nations that are experiencing a major dosage shortage.
"We can vaccinate the world by the end of next year and build back better from coronavirus," Johnson said.
Johnson said Britain will give 100 million doses. Biden said the U.S. will donate 500 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Germany and France committed to donating 30 million doses by the end of this year.
Biden likened the vaccine donations to America's participation in World War II.
"In times of trouble, Americans reach out to lend a helping hand. That's who we are," he said. "America will be the arsenal of vaccines in our fight against COVID-19, just as America was the arsenal of democracy during World War II."
As world leaders gather in England for the G7 summit, so do hundreds of climate change protests.
Activists joined a rally in St Ives organized by the Extinction Rebellion climate activism group. Protesters held flags that read "G7 drowning in promises" and "Action not words."
"I'm inspired by the youth who are leading Fridays for Future," 56-year-old protesters Jill Eastland told the Associated Press.
"I think they are amazing, and if we have any hope, the hope is with them and not with our rich, greedy, lying leaders of the world meeting for the G-7."
Climate change is a top issue on the G7 summit agenda.
The G7 leaders lined up for a photo on the beaches of St Ives moments ago.
G7 leaders have gathered for a family photo on Carbis Bay Beach ahead of the first meeting of the G7 Summit.#G7UK pic.twitter.com/k8FsRvPTMO
— G7 UK (@G7) June 11, 2021
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was front and center, surrounded by U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
The leaders were also joined by European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel.
Morning Consult Political Intelligence released updated approval ratings for the G7 leaders, as of June 10.
Draghi leads the group with a 65 percent approval rating among all adults, while Suga is at the bottom with a 27 percent approval rating, amid growing COVID-19 cases and controversy surrounding the Tokyo Olympic Games to open in July.
Merkel has a 54 percent approval rating and Biden is close behind with 52 percent. Johnson and Trudeau are just below 50 percent while Macron's approval rating is 35 percent.
#G7 Leader’s Latest Overall Approval:
— Morning Consult (@MorningConsult) June 11, 2021
Draghi (Italy) - 65%
Merkel (Germany) - 54%
Biden (USA) - 52%
Johnson (UK) - 47%
Trudeau (Canada) - 45%
Macron (France) - 35%
Suga (Japan) - 27%
*Among all adults, updated 6/10/21https://t.co/dQsNxouZWb#G7Summit https://t.co/y8m5mRXb1P
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is hoping for "values-based multilateralism" at the G7 summit.
"We put in a strong word here for multilateralism here, and for values-based multilateralism," Merkel said.
She added that President Biden "represents the commitment to multilateralism that we have been missing in recent years."
Merkel also noted that in order to meet these goals, G7 leaders will need to cooperate with China.
"We need everyone in the world—we want to work together, particularly in the areas of climate protection and biodiversity. We will never achieve solutions there without China," she said.
Welcome to Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has arrived in Cornwall ahead of the G7 Summit 🇩🇪#G7UK pic.twitter.com/u8yETiUJBn
— G7 UK (@G7) June 11, 2021
The chancellor also said she hopes G7 leaders achieve "very good results" on their commitment to donate 1 billion coronavirus vaccine doses.
"I hope that we will achieve very good results to show that we're not just thinking of ourselves, but we're also thinking of those who don't yet have the opportunity to get vaccinated—above all, African countries, but others, too," she said.
The White House announced Friday that President Joe Biden will welcome the chancellor in Washington July 15 to discuss their "commitment to close cooperation on a range of common challenges, including ending the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing the threat of climate change and promoting economic prosperity and international security based on our shared democratic values."
The Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton and first lady of the United States Jill Biden visited the Connor Downs Academy in Hayle, England, during the G7 summit.
NEW: The Duchess of Cambridge and @FLOTUS are currently visiting a primary school in Hayle, Cornwall: #G7Cornwall pic.twitter.com/yFwLnkTNvP
— Emily Nash (@emynash) June 11, 2021
The pair is touring the preschool and learning how the children care for rabbits. Biden was seen carrying a bowl of carrots when they went outside to see the bunnies.
The teacher told CNN that the children are learning about how to make the world greener and a better place, "which is what we know the G7 is all about."
First Lady Jill Biden and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, bring over a big bowl of carrots for the bunnies that a classroom of young students in Cornwall help take care of. pic.twitter.com/eoCTleygoW
— Kate Sullivan (@KateSullivanDC) June 11, 2021
Biden is a longtime English teacher, and Middleton is the mother of three young children.
Biden said early childhood education during the pandemic is "very important."
"It is the foundation of everything. I can tell you that as a teacher in the upper levels, if they don't have a good foundation, they fall so far behind," she said. "So this is amazing to see what these children are doing, and how far advanced they are at 4 and 5 years old."
