The G-7 is unlikely to become the G-8 again any time soon, according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki, a pivot away from former President Donald Trump’s position.
“I don’t think we’re making new invitations to Russia or reiterating new invitations to Russia,” Psaki told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday. “Obviously, an invitation would be done in partnership with our G-7 partners.”
President Biden participated in his first G-7 meeting as president virtually Friday morning before delivering his first address to world leaders via the Munich Security Conference, a gathering he’s spoken at in person many times before.
Russia had been a member of the G-8 group since 1997 until it was ejected in 2014 over its annexation of Crimea. Trump had lobbied Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom to readmit Russia during his administration, but he failed to convince them.
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Biden took a different approach to Russia Friday, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of attacking democracies and weaponizing “corruption to try to undermine our system of governance.”
“Russian leaders want people to think that our system is more corrupt or as corrupt as theirs. But the world knows that isn’t true, including Russians — Russia’s own citizens,” he said.
It’s unknown whether the 2021 G-7 annual summit, set to be hosted by the U.K. in June, will be held in person, Psaki said Friday as Biden flew to Michigan to tour a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing site.
“That’s in June. I think it’s too far away at this point,” she said aboard the presidential jet.
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During her 25-minute gaggle with reporters, Psaki also downplayed concerns about whether shortfalls in projected Johnson & Johnson vaccine production would affect the country’s supply of doses.
“We have ordered enough Moderna and Pfizer vaccines to vaccinate the entire public,” she added.
