BoJo vetoes Russian entry into G7 against Trump's wishes

[Obama-Biden Democrat]

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/01/uk-would-veto-russias-return-to-g7-293826

Despite the UK leaving the EU, they are still a strong and proud part of NATO and one of the great powers in the world. BoJo sees the Russian threat for what it is. You can't make concessions to the Russians unless they make good faith policy decisions. Trump is a tankie who has been turned into a long term Russian intel asset. If Trump wins reelection, NATO is going to be in deep trouble. It might be a good idea for CA-UK-AU-NZ to start tightening their relationships. Trump has totally invalidated Americas place as the leader of the free world.

[urutzizu]

Boris Johnson is by far the most anti-Russian leader in Western Europe (as are almost all British Tories). I never had a particularly high opinion of the #FBPE crowd, but them importing "Russian Asset" talking points 1 to 1 from the US without any self-awareness whatsoever, while their veneered Macron calls Nato braindead and calls for a reset with Russia and Merkel railroads through Nordstream and removes Russia's council of Europe sanctions, was the point where I realized that they are just as delusional and hackish with zero foreign policy understanding as the Brexit party supporters are.

[Horus]

Great decision by BoJo!

[Former President tack50]

Never thought I would be supporting Boris Johnson, yet here I am

[CumbrianLefty]

Well if he has alienated the US, who is going to be our "bezzie mate" post full Brexit?

[Bismarck]

Wasn’t the point of bringing in Russia to try to keep it from being completely a Chinese ally? With Russia in but not China its a much better way to sideline the Chinese than with just adding us allies

[CumbrianLefty]

I never had a particularly high opinion of the #FBPE crowd, but them importing "Russian Asset" talking points 1 to 1 from the US without any self-awareness whatsoever, while their veneered Macron calls Nato braindead and calls for a reset with Russia and Merkel railroads through Nordstream and removes Russia's council of Europe sanctions, was the point where I realized that they are just as delusional and hackish with zero foreign policy understanding as the Brexit party supporters are.

Central to the #FBPEer mindset is the idea that this country was harmonious and tolerant - if not an actual paradise - until Brexit just came from nowhere and ruined it all. These are the sort of people who almost literally worship the 2012 Olympics as an unrepeatable all time zenith of recent history.

So if you believe all that, it stands to reason that only nefarious outsiders could have changed it. As with the almost identical outlook of 2016-era Hillary stans, "Russia" fits the bill almost perfectly.

[Silent Hunter]

I distinctly remember Chris Grayling getting booed at the Paralympics.

While Russia has certainly interfered in British and American politics among other countries, it couldn't do that if the feelings they are harnessing weren't already there.

[CumbrianLefty]

I don't, I do very much recall George Osborne getting the bird though.

[kelestian]

Trump didn't invite Russia into G7, he invite Russia (+South Korea + Australia + India) to summit with G7. But it seems like this will be big anti-Chinese meeting, so Russia, Chinese ally, wouldn't go anywhere.

Idea of modern Russian switching sides and becoming ally of modern US is complete fantasy

[CumbrianLefty]

Idea of modern Russian switching sides and becoming ally of modern US is complete fantasy

A lot of people expected it in the immediate aftermath of the USSR's collapse, though.

[Bismarck]

Idea of modern Russian switching sides and becoming ally of modern US is complete fantasy

A lot of people expected it in the immediate aftermath of the USSR's collapse, though.

Would you have said the same of China in 1968?

[President Johnson]

Freedom decision. The G7, while not as important as the G20, is a collection of nations with common values. Putin has repeatedly violated this spirit by moving borders with the use of force for the first time in post World War II Europe and he interfered in numerous Western elections. And he is still in a full-scale effort to destabilize the West for his own purposes. Instead of cosying up to him, we should boldly confront him and demand a change in behavior or impose more sanctions. Certainly, this is a guy who only understands strength and determination. By inviting him back into the G7 or siding with him over your own Intel services, we do the opposite. All that doesn't mean, there shouldn't be talks and cooperation where possible, but I'm not in favor of a Russian return to the format unless we (the other nations) get something out of that is more than empty talk.

[jaymichaud]

Boris Johnson is by far the most anti-Russian leader in Western Europe (as are almost all British Tories). I never had a particularly high opinion of the #FBPE crowd, but them importing "Russian Asset" talking points 1 to 1 from the US without any self-awareness whatsoever, while their veneered Macron calls Nato braindead and calls for a reset with Russia and Merkel railroads through Nordstream and removes Russia's council of Europe sanctions, was the point where I realized that they are just as delusional and hackish with zero foreign policy understanding as the Brexit party supporters are.

Not at all shocking after the Skripal attack in 2018.

[Obama-Biden Democrat]

Trump didn't invite Russia into G7, he invite Russia (+South Korea + Australia + India) to summit with G7. But it seems like this will be big anti-Chinese meeting, so Russia, Chinese ally, wouldn't go anywhere.

Idea of modern Russian switching sides and becoming ally of modern US is complete fantasy

Back in the 1990's under Yeltsin, there was chatter about Russia joining NATO in 1995.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/dec/31/russia-associate-membership-nato-malcolm-rifkind-chequers-boris-yeltsin

[Beet]

Trump has effectively invited China to the G-7 by making it "the country that dominated by its absence." IMO this club should remain a group of advanced developed nations which means no Russia but even more so no India. If you need a big anti-China group, kicking it out of the G-20 would be more effective.

[kelestian]

Trump didn't invite Russia into G7, he invite Russia (+South Korea + Australia + India) to summit with G7. But it seems like this will be big anti-Chinese meeting, so Russia, Chinese ally, wouldn't go anywhere.

Idea of modern Russian switching sides and becoming ally of modern US is complete fantasy

Back in the 1990's under Yeltsin, there was chatter about Russia joining NATO in 1995.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/dec/31/russia-associate-membership-nato-malcolm-rifkind-chequers-boris-yeltsin

Dr. Radchenko wrote a lot about this recently.  West never considered Russia joining NATO as real possibility.
twitter.com/DrRadchenko

Idea of modern Russian switching sides and becoming ally of modern US is complete fantasy

A lot of people expected it in the immediate aftermath of the USSR's collapse, though.

That was long time ago, in 90s nor Russia neither China were opponents of US

[Coldstream]

Boris Johnson is by far the most anti-Russian leader in Western Europe (as are almost all British Tories). I never had a particularly high opinion of the #FBPE crowd, but them importing "Russian Asset" talking points 1 to 1 from the US without any self-awareness whatsoever, while their veneered Macron calls Nato braindead and calls for a reset with Russia and Merkel railroads through Nordstream and removes Russia's council of Europe sanctions, was the point where I realized that they are just as delusional and hackish with zero foreign policy understanding as the Brexit party supporters are.

Most of that was because of Dominic Cummings/Matthew Elliott business ties and the refusal to release the report in to Russian interference rather than anything Boris Johnson himself did. I don’t think anyone serious thought he personally was compromised like Trump.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

A proverbial broken clock moment for BoJo.

West never considered Russia joining NATO as real possibility.

The only universe where it actually happened was Tom Clancy's political Mary Sue novels.

[TDAS04]

Good.