Trump Wants Russia Back in the G7 Again!
U.S. President Trump recently claimed that excluding Russia from the "Group of Eight" (G8) was a colossal mistake. In an interview, he lamented that if Russia had not been kicked out back then, the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022 might never have erupted.
This remark came during his reflection on a France-hosted G7 summit. While praising French President Macron for his excellent hospitality, Trump suddenly shifted tone to “dig up old history”: “We used to be G8—blame Obama for disliking Putin so much that he forced Russia out. Now we’re stuck with this mess. How frustrating!”
To understand the full context: In 2014, due to the Crimea issue, Western nations collectively expelled Russia from the G8, transforming it into today’s G7 (U.S., UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan). In fact, when Trump first served as president, he repeatedly expressed interest in bringing Russia back—and even proposed inviting China too. However, his European allies refused, insisting there would be no return unless Russia changed course on Ukraine.
But Russia itself has never shown much interest. Foreign Minister Lavrov openly stated that leaving the group actually relieved him, freeing him from having to argue endlessly with Western countries obsessed with “world domination.” The Kremlin added further criticism, saying the G7’s influence has long since waned and its global economic weight continues to diminish. Russia quickly pivoted toward the G20, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization—where it now enjoys numerous new friendships.
In short, Trump sees rejoining Russia in the G7 as a brilliant strategy to turn enemies into friends. But reality shows neither side is truly enthusiastic about this “reconciliation” act.
Trump’s move is less a diplomatic masterstroke and more a vivid display of his personal style—always transactional, nostalgic about past grievances, and convinced he alone can solve problems others cannot. His logic—that “war could have been avoided if Russia stayed in G8”—is overly simplistic, reducing complex geopolitical conflicts down to nothing more than a guest list issue.
Yet his comment does hit a nerve: the G7, once the dominant force shaping global economics, now appears increasingly ineffective in today’s shifting world order. When Russia calmly declares it no longer cares, it reveals just how diminished the power of “expelling members” has become as a tool of Western pressure.
Russia’s successful pivot into BRICS, the SCO, and other multilateral forums proves the world no longer revolves solely around the West. While Trump nostalgically mourns the “glory days” of G8, Russia has already moved decisively toward a multipolar new chessboard. This debate over whether Russia should return is ultimately a symptom of an old order struggling to adapt to a new reality. The mirror can’t be mended because the mirror itself has ceased to matter!
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868508715955207/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.