The G7 summit is Boris Johnson's first serious challenge as prime minister

This weekend’s G7 summit in the French beach resort of Biarritz is Boris Johnson’s first major outing on the global stage as prime minister.

He is hoping to use the opportunity to stake the UK’s claim to a prominent place in world affairs after Brexit.

Since Johnson came to power a little over a month ago, British politics has been understandably fixated on his approach to EU withdrawal and his willingness to drive the UK over the cliff of a no-deal Brexit.

But his trips to Berlin and Paris this week have had the effect of taking the spotlight off Brexit for the time being, giving him the chance to try to direct people’s attention to the future beyond 31 October.

He will insist that, far from retreating into its Little England shell after Brexit, the UK will be an “international, outward-looking, self-confident nation” with a big part to play in dealing with the problems of the world.

Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron made no concessions to the British prime minister’s demands for a rewrite of the withdrawal agreement. Merkel’s much-debated 30-day deadline amounted to little more than telling him: “If you’ve got a workable plan for the Irish border, let’s see it.”

But their indication of willingness to talk has neutralised the issue for the duration of the summit at least, with his talks with European Council president Donald Tusk thought unlikely to deliver a breakthrough.

Tusk aside, Johnson’s schedule of meetings during the three-day gathering reads like a wish list of partners for possible future trade deals, with talks planned not only with US president Donald Trump, but also India’s Narendra Modi, Canada’s Justin Trudeau, Japan’s Shinzo Abe and Australia’s Scott Morrison.

The Trump meeting early on Sunday will be the highpoint of the summit for Johnson. The pair have talked on the phone several times over the past month, but it is their first face-to-face encounter since Johnson became prime minister. Some reports suggest that the opportunity to talk to Johnson in person is Biarritz’s main attraction for Trump, who has been vocal in his praise for the new prime minister.

But the get-together will also highlight the perilous decisions facing Johnson as he seeks closer relations with the US to make up for Britain’s diminished future role in Europe.

On issues ranging from sanctions against Iran to the Paris agreement on climate change and the readmission of Russia to an enlarged G8, London is currently at odds with Washington. Any move towards Trump would risk antagonising the UK’s allies in Europe. But any defiance of the notoriously thin-skinned president could put hopes of an all-important trade deal at risk.

And it is far from clear whether on other issues – ranging from biodiversity to gender equality to the defence of democracy – that Johnson hopes to raise, leaders from either the US, Europe or the rest of the world will be ready to listen to what he has to say.

Biarritz may be the moment when the new prime minister is forced to confront some of the harsh realities of Brexit.

As a leading member of the EU, the UK has automatically had a voice on the world stage and an influence way beyond its shores.

As a former member desperately in need of new trade deals, it will find itself awkwardly balanced between larger powers with little inclination to take its opinions into account.

Yours,

Andrew Woodcock
Political editor