Rishi Sunak, the UK Prime Minister, has denied allegations of being snubbed by other leaders at the recent G7 summit in Italy. This event, potentially one of his last high-profile international trips, has come at a crucial time as he faces a general election on 4 July, where polls suggest he is likely to lose by a significant margin to Keir Starmer’s Labour Party.
The latest polling data indicates that Labour is maintaining a lead of over 20 points against the Conservatives, creating a tense atmosphere for Sunak and his team. Despite these challenges, Sunak emphasized that he had engaged in meaningful discussions with his counterparts, albeit informally.
“You can do lots of meetings with people in the margins of things and that’s exactly what I have been doing,” Sunak told reporters. He mentioned having conversations with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines, reinforcing the value of the summit’s intimate setting. Sunak stated, “That’s the beauty of summits like this, actually: the intimacy of them.”
Sunak’s first day at the summit saw a notable interaction with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a key ally on issues such as illegal migration. A video capturing their encounter showed Meloni appearing to ask Sunak sympathetically, “Are you OK?”
Reflecting on the supportive nature of their relationship, both leaders shared a joint Instagram post with the caption: “Freedom. Control of our borders. Defence of national sovereignty. That is what unites our politics. That is what unites our two countries.”
Despite these personal connections, the absence of scheduled bilateral meetings with other G7 leaders, including those from the US, Japan, Canada, and Germany, raised questions. Sunak did have formal meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. However, a walk with Zelenskyy through the summit grounds reportedly allowed for an in-depth discussion on Ukraine’s situation, concluding with an embrace and best wishes from Zelenskyy.
Sunak remains firmly in campaign mode, leveraging his international platform to draw contrasts with Labour’s policies. He criticized Labour’s manifesto, unveiled by Starmer, which promises to prioritize wealth creation. Sunak contended, “There’s a very clear choice now at the election: a Conservative government that will cut taxes for you at every stage of your life, and a potential Labour government that will raise the tax burden to the highest level in our country’s history.”
Sunak is not alone in facing domestic political challenges. French President Macron, following a poor performance in the EU elections, has called for a snap parliamentary election. Similarly, in Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany party made significant gains in the EU elections. US President Joe Biden is also gearing up for a tough re-election battle in November, with polls showing a tight race against Donald Trump. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are similarly grappling with low personal ratings.
The G7 summit also focused on critical global issues. The leaders agreed to fund a $50 billion support package for Ukraine, using the profits from immobilized Russian assets, which amount to $285 billion held in G7 jurisdictions. Sunak highlighted that this package aims to support Ukraine’s military and economic reconstruction and act as a deterrent to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The UK announced an additional £242 million in bilateral funding for Ukraine and introduced 50 new sanctions targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, used to evade sanctions, and institutions at the core of Russia’s financial system.
Migration was another key topic. Sunak plans to press for collective action to address migration challenges, drawing on his previous collaboration with Meloni. He touted his Rwanda scheme, which proposes processing asylum seekers abroad, during a recent visit to Austria. This approach aligns with calls from 15 EU countries for the European Commission to tighten migration policy and consider third-country processing schemes.
While Rishi Sunak faces significant political headwinds at home and a potentially cold reception from some G7 leaders, he continues to assert his presence on the international stage, highlighting informal meetings and shared agendas with key allies. With inputs from agencies.
