President Trump said Friday that the Group of Seven nations should allow Russia back into the coalition of leading industrialized countries.
“Russia should be in this meeting,” Mr. Trump said as he departed for the G-7 summit in Canada. “Why are we having this meeting without Russia? We should have Russia at the negotiating table.”
Then-President Barack Obama and other world leaders kicked out Russia from the G-7 in 2014 as a response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea. The group said Moscow violated international law.
Mr. Trump said although he has been tough on Moscow, Russia “should be a part” of the meetings.
“Whether you like it or not … we have a world to run,” he said. “They threw Russia out, we should let Russia back in.”
The president’s statements have received pushback from other lawmakers on both sides of the isle.
Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, who challenged Mr. Trumpss tariffs on the Senate floor Thursday, tweeted:
No, Russia should not be added to the G-7.
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) June 8, 2018
New York Sen. Chuck Schumer posted a multiple-tweet response to the news, calling Mr. Trump’s strategy “erratic” and an “international joke.”
.@realDonaldTrump is turning our foreign policy into an international joke, doing lasting damage to our country, without any rhyme or reason.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 8, 2018
We need the president to be able to distinguish between our allies and adversaries, and to treat each accordingly. On issue after issue, he’s failed to do that.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 8, 2018
The president’s support for inviting Russia back into the G-7, just after they meddled in the election to support his campaign, will leave millions of Americans with serious questions and suspicions.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 8, 2018
Readmitting Russia to the G-7 would reward Vladimir Putin for actions the U.S. and its allies have condemned, and would clearly be contrary to America’s interests. The president’s foreign policy decision making seems to become more erratic every day. https://t.co/y44JhesqCS
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 8, 2018
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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