5 things to watch for on Biden’s G-7 trip to Italy

President Biden leaves for Italy on Wednesday for his second major international engagement this month, hoping to highlight his leadership on the world stage amid a tough re-election battle.

The annual Group of Seven (G-7) summit is expected to involve talks on Ukraine’s war against Russia, Israel’s war on Gaza and other issues such as the global economy and climate change.

The president is expected to put the differences between his partnership with allies and former President Trump’s “America First” agenda front and center as European allies face a new coup from far-right leaders. who gain influence in their own countries.

Here are five things to watch for on Biden’s G-7 trip.

Biden’s trip coincides with far-right electoral victories

The president heads to Europe immediately after elections in several countries where right-wing politicians have made gains, putting centrist leaders on their heels and raising questions about the future of issues such as aid to Ukraine.

The White House responded to the election by saying it respects democracy around the world, reiterating aspects of a speech Biden gave last week in Normandy during the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

“Most critically, we respect our allies and partners across the European continent. And we have full confidence that regardless of who gets which seat in the EU Parliament, we will be able to continue to work with all of our allies and partners,” said White House spokesman John Kirby.

Biden focused his speeches in France last week on the importance of alliances and the promotion and strengthening of democracy. In the days since, Europe has seen a rise in far-right leaders winning election victories, even as Biden’s November opponent, Trump, continues to promote an “America First” vision.

French President Emmanuel Macron called early national elections after his pro-European centrist party demonstrated a weaker return in European parliamentary elections compared to far-right parties on Sunday. Macron announced the move shortly after hosting Biden for a high-level post-Normania state visit in Paris.

Germany’s conservative opposition party also won more votes for the European Parliament compared to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left party.

Kirby added in response to the results that “the president will work with France’s democratically elected leaders, regardless of who they are.”

Intense conflict in the Middle East

The summit, which runs from Thursday to Saturday, takes place at a delicate time regarding the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

Israeli forces on Sunday freed four hostages held by Hamas, but the attack killed more than 200 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

The United Nations Security Council on Monday approved a US-sponsored resolution calling for an immediate and temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Biden announced the proposal last month in his clearest indication yet that he is ready to end the war, declaring at the time that Israel had degraded Hamas to the point that it would not be able to carry out another attack on October 7.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will not agree to a permanent ceasefire until all hostages are released, Hamas is stripped of its ability to threaten Israel militarily and does not govern the Gaza Strip. .

Kirby said on Tuesday that the US had received Hamas’ response to the ceasefire proposal and was still evaluating it.

Biden is likely to listen to his European allies on the issue, as Israel’s place on the world stage continues to take a hit as the war drags on, given the tens of thousands of people who have died in Gaza since the start of the war. war in October. .

A second Zelensky meeting

Biden is expected to meet in Italy with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky, marking the second time in a week that the two men have met while Biden is abroad. The two previously sat in Normandy during D-Day anniversary proceedings.

“At the G-7 meeting later this week, our commitment to Ukraine will continue to be direct and clear,” Kirby told reporters. “We will take enhanced measures to show Mr. Putin that time is not on his side and that he cannot outlive us as we support Ukraine’s fight for freedom.”

The president will skip the Ukraine peace summit, held on Saturday in Switzerland, to return home for a major fundraiser in California. Vice President Harris will attend in his place.

Another important element for G-7 members to demonstrate their commitment to Ukraine at the summit will be reaching a consensus on the seizure of frozen Russian assets to financially support Ukraine.

G-7 members froze about $268 billion in Russian assets following the 2022 invasion and U.S.-led proposal supposedly calls on countries to use profits generated from frozen assets – around $2.6 to $3.6 billion per year – to immediately repay a $50 billion loan to supply Ukraine. 

Biden and Zelensky will participate in a press conference after the meeting and the US is expected to announce new sanctions and export control actions against Russia.

Biden made a point, during each of his international trips, to highlight the unified front that the US and its allies demonstrated in supporting Ukraine.

Congress approved about $61 billion in additional aid to Ukraine after a months-long impasse, giving Biden a legislative victory and the ability to promote continued U.S. leadership in supporting Kiev.

But Republicans are unlikely to resort to any additional aid this year, and the prospect of Trump returning to the White House threatens the prospect of U.S. support continuing beyond 2024, which could undermine Biden’s appeals to allies to continue to provide aid to Ukraine.

Improving global economy, driven by US

Biden enters the G-7 summit with good news on the global economic front – the world economy is stabilizing and the US is strengthening it.

The World Bank economic prospects released on Tuesday credited the strong US economy with strengthening the outlook for the global economy.

“Growth remained buoyant despite the fiercest tightening of monetary policy in four decades. The dynamism of the US, in fact, is one of the reasons why the global economy enjoys some growth potential in the next two years”, wrote the organization.

The G-7 includes the world’s most advanced economies and is expected to discuss improving the global economy. Any praise for US participation in bolstering the World Bank’s outlook for the international community would be significant for Biden ahead of the November elections.

Biden will host a side event at the G-7 to promote global infrastructure and investment, the White House outlined.

“We will continue to provide a path to help countries overcome unsustainable debt burdens, increase the World Bank’s lending power, mobilize additional capital for investment in high-quality infrastructure, and make new security commitments. food and health,” said Kirby.

Internal issues facing Biden

Biden is set to leave for Italy the day after his son, Hunter Biden, was found guilty on all three counts in his gun trial in Wilmington, Del. Biden unexpectedly traveled to Wilmington on Tuesday following the verdict and spent the night at his home in Delaware before his trip.

The president and the White House are bracing for the fallout from the younger Biden’s guilty verdict and sentencing. Biden on Tuesday released a statement saying he would respect the judicial process following the verdict and reiterated his support for his son.

The president also faces domestic backlash over domestic policies, including his immigration executive order announced last week that would restrict asylum protections for those crossing between ports of entry if average daily crossings exceed 2,500.

Democrats and immigrant rights groups called the order too restrictive, as Biden prepares for Republicans to use the influx of migrants at the border against Biden in the campaign.

And the international trip takes place just two weeks before Biden’s scheduled meeting to debate Trump. Biden will supposedly wastes time at Camp David preparing for the June 27 clash.

 Laura Kelly contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story