It was the failure with Brexit that became the reason why British Prime Minister Boris Johnson decided to demonstrate a “global UK” at the G7 summit, writes The Guardian.
The publication noted the tense atmosphere at the G7 summit: Johnson was embroiled in a public quarrel with EU leaders over Northern Ireland. The British prime minister again threatened to suspend the Northern Ireland Protocol, which will almost certainly provoke a trade response from the European Union.
“This scandal overshadowed the summit at which Johnson hoped to showcase a ‘global Britain’ as a strong and independent force on the post-Brexit world stage. Instead, former British ambassadors said that his failure to complete the Brexit deal he himself helped guide fatally undermined the credibility of his government and damaged his international reputation”, – writes The Guardian.
As a reminder, the Northern Ireland Protocol was agreed as a way to preserve the EU’s single market after the UK’s exit from the union. According to the protocol, Northern Ireland will remain part of the British customs territory, but will also remain in a customs union with the European Union.