Leaders fearing the future

[struggle4progress]

By Michael Birnbaum and Damian Paletta
July 8 at 3:57 PM

HAMBURG — President Trump and other world leaders on Saturday emerged from two days of talks unable to resolve key differences on core issues such as climate change and globalization ...

... as negotiators made a good-faith effort to bargain toward consensus, European leaders said .. a chasm has opened between the United States and the rest of the world ...

... divisions were most bitter on climate change, where 19 leaders formed a unified front against Trump. But even in areas of nominal compromise, such as trade, top European leaders said they have little faith that an agreement forged today could hold tomorrow ...

“Wherever there is no consensus that can be achieved, disagreement has to be made clear,” Merkel said at the end of the summit. “Unfortunately — and I deplore this — the United States of America left the climate agreement” ...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-leaves-leaders-fearing-the-future-as-g-20-summit-breaks/2017/07/08/daed41be-634f-11e7-84a1-a26b75ad39fe_story.html?utm_term=.4142ccbfd80e

[struggle4progress]

1. Sits out on climate agreement

Gregory Korte , USA TODAY
Published 1:16 p.m. ET July 8, 2017 | Updated 3:35 p.m. ET July 8, 2017

HAMBURG — The world's wealthiest nations reached a near-unanimous agreement Saturday that the Paris climate agreement is "irreversible," signing on to a document that urges the developed world to move "swiftly toward its full implementation."

All of them, that is, except the United States ...

But the final communique of the G-20 summit in Hamburg on Saturday showed that Trump and the rest of the world were unable to find a way to accommodate his insistence that the United States is free to renege on agreements made by the previous administration ...

"We take note of the decision of the United States of America to withdraw from the Paris Agreement," the communique read. "The leaders of the other G-20 members state that the Paris Agreement is irreversible."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/07/08/paris-climate-agreement-g-20-summit-its-19-against-trump-u-s/461795001/

[struggle4progress]

2. World no longer looks to America for leadership

Andrew Buncombe
New York

Donald Trump paused briefly as he and the First Lady reached the top of the steps of Air Force One, gave a quick wave, and was on his way. At 6.05pm, he was on his way back to the US, leaving the other members of the G20 disgruntled and defiant, but almost certainly glad he was out of there ...

... on issues ranging from trade to climate change, on how to deal with problems such as Ukraine, the US has turned its back on the considered consensus. Even on subjects such as Article Five of Nato’s charter - the part that relates to mutual defence - Trump looks nothing less than wobbly.

... Observers in Hamburg said people were struck by the US delegation’s unwillingness to take a leadership role.

During a meeting on climate change, Trump left for his bilateral with Vladimir Putin ...

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/g20-hamburg-donald-trump-world-leadership-climate-change-trade-no-longer-communiqu-a7831186.html

[BigmanPigman]

3. What are the chances his plane will get redirected elsewhere and never make it back?

I can only wish.
When does he leave the US again? I feel less stressed when he's gone.