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Scott Morrison, embraced as a “bro” by Donald Trump, aspires to be one of Joe Biden’s besties.
Making this smooth transition is perhaps the most important aspect of Morrison’s trip to the G7 summit, where Australia is one of many guest countries.
A feature of the weekend in Cornwall will be the Prime Minister’s bilateral to the President, with a bonhomie display for the cameras and some insightful analysis of each other in private.
The Australia-US relationship is driven by deeper common interests than the extent of the relationship (or lack thereof) between office leaders at any particular time. But establishing strong personal bonds can help grease the tires.
Morrison’s pragmatism and the quality of his chameleon will help build intimacy. In and around the G7 he will play obvious points of similarity, along with Biden and the other leaders.
But he still carries some policy baggage, notably on the climate issue, and it’s unclear if it will bring him trouble.
‘More than a touch of hubris’
Morrison laid the groundwork for his trip in his speech Wednesday in Perth, titled A world order that prefers freedom, and as a rally call to allies.
This is well aligned with Biden’s recent article in the Washington Post, under the title My trip to Europe is about America spreading democracies around the world.
James Curran, professor of modern history at Sydney University, saw more than a touch of hubris in Morrison’s speech.
He appears to claim that Australia, by virtue of being at the forefront of the anticipated new Cold War against China, is a standard bearer for ‘a world order that prefers freedom’, ”he said.
But I think this is a case more of PMs cleverly tapping into President Bidens’s long-standing rhetoric of ‘alliance of democracies.’ Far from being the front, Mr. Morrison plays the role of presidency. “
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to search, up and down arrows for volume. WatchDuras: 5 minutes 38 seconds 5m PM under pressure on climate strategy before the G7 summit.
In one way or another, Morrison is firmly on the same page as the new President.
This is an easier page to be than Trump’s. During the Trump era, closeness may have been considered necessary in Australia’s interests, but was decided to be difficult.
For example, when asked on the radio before his September 2019 visit to the U.S. (including the state dinner) if Trump was a good president, almost one could hear Morrison slipping into the room.
“Yeah I, look we have a straight up relationship and he respects Australia.
In Wednesday’s speech Morison discussed the book Australia, declaring in the written version: “Australia is more connected and more respected today than can be said at any time in our history”.
He added: We have worked hard to ensure that we are not a country that is easily alienated and driven into unacceptable compromises.
China in his mind
In broad strategic and economic terms, Morrison headed to the G7 focused and preoccupied with the threat of an increasingly enthusiastic China.
Australia has increasingly felt the harsh tongue of China’s diplomatic tongue, and some Australian exports are suffering as China snatches the goods to express their satisfaction on various issues.
Morrison seeks maximum attention to China’s challenge from allies and friends, especially the US, at the G7 and on every other possible occasion.
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Given how bad it is for Australia’s behavior today, the government’s reaction is not surprising. But there is also a risk of being seriously unproductive.
In Western Australia, there is concern that China may threaten to export the state’s iron ore. Critics don’t buy into the federal government’s argument that it’s against China’s own interests and it’s unlikely to happen.
WA Premier Mark McGowan decided not to impress the tone of Morrison’s speech. McGowan warns that we need to be careful with regard to our language and the way we approach these things because we can be big losers here.
One specific issue that Morrison hopes the G7 will push for is the reform of the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement system, which has separated Trump’s rise to appointing new judges.
A well -functioning process is important, especially for a country like Australia, to enforce trade policies and deal with grievances.
Australian National University Shiro Armstrong, a WTO expert, said Morrison’s urging weighed on a broader international recognition that global trade policies were outdated and the current system was under threat.
While the G7 is expected to call for action, Armstrong said the change will require wider support.
He pointed to the G20 (of which Australia is a member) as the body capable of setting the strategic direction for WTO reform because of its membership of large emerging economies and established power.
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to search, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Length: 2 minutes 21 seconds 2m 21s Scott Morrison supports US calls for an investigation into the origin of COVID-19 .. Will Morrison take the place?
Among the key issues on the G7 agenda are climate change and the pandemic.
Morrison clarified that he was not yet ready to embrace a firm 2050 target for net zero emissions although he wanted before the Glasgow climate conference in November to just let Australia’s ambition be raised in the near future.
For all his talk on technology, and his defense of Australia’s record, he will not be in contact with G7 leaders. Nakakahiya naman. The question is, how embarrassing?
Will he be put in the spotlight, or will Australia’s laggard position be politely ignored in public? And behind closed doors, will Biden rotate his arm to move faster, or will the President leave that until later, or will his climate messenger John Kerry? Britain’s Boris Johnson has been solid with him.
In the pandemic, Morrison will be able to brag about the health and performance of the Australian economy. He probably won’t focus on the slowness and problems of the launch.
But G7 leaders are focused on the need to get more vaccines in developing countries. Biden suggests a major United States initiative.
Morrison will point to Australian -funded vaccine assistance for the region. We can always do more, but the government is in order and will receive more doses than necessary to fully cover all eligible Australians.
In his speech, Morrison made a point of accepting Biden’s investigation into the origin of the coronavirus as to whether it originated in an animal, because at first it was the accepted explanation, or the possibility that it accidentally escaped from a laboratory in Wuhan. .
Australia’s early call for an inquiry marked a moment of further deterioration in relations with China. The investigation that eventually resulted is uncertain.
According to a leaked version of the draft G7 communication, seen by Bloomberg News, leaders are set to call for the World Health Organization to set up a new inquiry into the origin of COVID-19.
For Morrison, the search for the start of the pandemic was unfinished business, a point of strong agreement with the President.
Michelle Grattan is a fellow professor at the University of Canberra and chief political correspondent at The Conversation, where this article first appeared.
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