Sunday, June 10, 2018

bad faith diplomacy

Yes, at the G-7 summit in Canada there was "bad faith diplomacy," and "betrayal," and a "stab in the back." But the perpetrator was Donald Trump, not Justin Trudeau. Watch the Prime Minister's news conference and see for yourself.

Trudeau spent 12 minutes explaining and defending which Trump had agreed to sign prior to his departure. White House officials told the American press that fact. Of course Trudeau's argument was that, in spite of some differences, they agreed to the [pretty anodyne] language of the joint communique. That's what usually happens at such events.

It was only when an American reporter pressed him to respond to some of Trump's tougher language on trade that Trudeau repeated what he had told the president, that he thought the tariffs were unjustified. Trudeau repeatedly avoided the harsh language later used by Trump and his advisors and continued to say that he wanted to work with Trump on resolving trade questions.

What obviously happened is that Trump changed his mind, demonstrated bad faith diplomacy, and then betrayed his G-7 colleagues by withdrawing his support for the statement. He stabbed Trudeau who had done nothing to weaken Trump as he headed for Singapore. Outrageous!

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