Under pressure from allies, U.S. President Donald Trump backed a pledge to fight protectionism on Saturday, but refused to endorse a global climate change accord, saying he needed more time to decide.
The summit of Group of Seven wealthy nations pitted Trump against the leaders of Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Canada and Japan on several issues, with European diplomats frustrated at having to revisit questions they hoped were long settled.
Trump, who has previously called global warming a hoax, tweeted that he would make a decision next week on whether to back the 2015 Paris Agreement on curbing carbon emissions following lengthy discussions with G7 partners.
"The entire discussion about climate was very difficult, if not to say very dissatisfying," German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters. "There are no indications whether the United States will stay in the Paris Agreement or not."
However, there was relief that Trump agreed to language in the final G7 communique that pledged to fight protectionism and commits to a rules-based international trade system.
During his election campaign last year, Trump threatened unilateral tariffs on Mexican and Chinese goods and said he would quit the North American Free Trade agreement unless it is renegotiated to his liking. Earlier this week he called Germany "very bad" on trade because of its surplus with the United States.
"In the end we convinced them to include the fight against protectionism in the final communique, so that was a step forward," said one European diplomat, who declined to be named.
Meeting in a luxury hotel overlooking the Mediterranean sea, hosts Italy had hoped that the summit would focus on Europe's migration crisis and the problems of neighbouring Africa.
The internal G7 divisions and a suicide bombing in Britain on Monday, that killed 22, overshadowed the Italian agenda, but on Saturday five African leaders joined the world power leaders to discuss their continent's potential.
Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou urged the G7 to take urgent measures to end the crisis in Libya -- the point of departure for hundreds of thousands of migrants looking for a better life in Europe. He also criticised them for not honouring aid promises to fight poverty in West Africa's poorest regions.
"Be it Niger, a transit nation, or the countries of origin, it is only through development that we will prevent illegal migration," Issoufou said.
RUSSIAN STICKING POINT
The final communique was just six pages long, against 32 pages last year, with diplomats saying the leaders wanted a simpler document to help them reach a wider audience.
After lengthy deliberation, the document included a separate threat, that was inserted into the 2016 G7 statement, to take additional action against Russia, if warranted, for its intervention in Ukraine.
The European Union and the United States imposed sanctions on Russia after Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and pledged to up the penalties if Russian interference in Ukraine intensified. Trump's promise of warmer ties with Moscow had called into question the U.S. commitment to sanctions.
Diplomats said that on other key international issues, such as Syria and North Korea, there was broad G7 agreement.
However, Italy was disappointed not to receive more backing for its call to open up more legal channels for immigration to try to slow the flow of people risking their lives to reach Europe on flimsy boats from lawless Libya.
"There was very strong opposition by the Americans and British who wanted to refocus on security and water down the expansive language on freedom of movement," said a European diplomat, who declined to be named.
Security questions dominated initial G7 discussion on Friday and the leaders called on internet service providers and social media firms to "substantially increase" their efforts to rein in extremist content.
The U.S. president is due to return to Washington later on Saturday at the end of a nine-day tour of the Middle East and Europe -- his first foreign trip since taking office.
Unlike other G7 leaders, he is not due to give a press conference before flying out.
U.S. officials said he had enjoyed "robust" conversations with his allies in Sicily and had also learnt a lot -- especially in the debate on climate change, which he has previously dismissed as a hoax.
"He came here to learn. He came here to get smart. His views are evolving which exactly as they should be," Trump's economic adviser Gary Cohn said on Friday.
Reuters
Sat May 27 2017
The G7 leaders pose for a family photo during the G7 Summit in Taormina, Sicily, Italy, May 26, 2017. - REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer
Tunggakan cukai: Dua ahli politik Melaka antara yang disekat ke luar negara
Dua ahli politik di Melaka antara 10 individu yang pernah disekat ke luar negara kerana gagal melunaskan tunggakan cukai melibatkan jumlah puluhan ribu ringgit.
Scarborough Shoal: Filipina tuduh China rosakkan kapalnya
Pengawal pantai Filipina menuduh pasukan pengawal pantai China mengganggu dan merosakkan salah sebuah kapalnya di kawasan terpencil dan terumbu di Laut China Selatan, Scarborough Shoal yang menjadi pertikaian kedua buah negara.
LHDN pergiat 'buru' syarikat, individu culas bayar cukai
LHDN tidak memilih bulu dan akan mengambil tindakan sewajarnya kepada semua pihak yang mempunyai tanggungjawab terhadap pembayaran cukai.
Tak cadang lanjut tempoh laksana sistem e-invois - LHDN
Sebanyak 4,000 syarikat yang memperoleh pendapatan melebihi RM100 juta setahun disasarkan menjadi kumpulan pertama untuk terbabit dalam pelaksanaan e-invois yang dilaksanakan mulai 1 Ogos ini.
Che'gu Bard mengaku tidak salah tuduhan akta hasutan
Ahli Jawatankuas Penerangan Bersatu, Badrul Hisham Shaharin aay Che'gu Bard mengaku tidak salah pertuduhan membuat penerbitan menghasut berhubung projek kasino di Forest City menerusi media sosial.
Anak KPD maut tertembak: Polis tunggu laporan forensik telefon bimbit
Pesuruhjaya Polis Sabah, Datuk Jauteh Dikun berkata, siasatan masih diteruskan termasuk mendapatkan maklumat kandungan dalam telefon bimbit mangsa.
Ketua Polis Negara sahkan Papagomo ditahan
Beliau berkata Wan Muhammad Azri ditahan di rumahnya di Setapak tengah hari tadi.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: 'Wira negara, damailah kalian di sana...'
Satu negara bersimpati, bersedih dengan perginya pejuang yang telah banyak berjasa buat Malaysia.
LHDN tak cadang lanjut tempoh kuat kuasa e-invois, beri pendidikan kepada PKS
Sebanyak 4,000 syarikat yang memperoleh pendapatan melebihi RM100 juta setahun disasarkan terbabit dalam pelaksanaan e-invois yang dilaksanakan mulai 1 Ogos ini.
Bekas pegawai PTG didakwa tipu status Tanah Rizab Melayu
Rosli Che Mohamed, 64, bagaimanapun mengaku tidak bersalah dan minta dibicarakan selepas pertuduhan dibacakan di hadapan Hakim Datuk Ibrahim Osman.
Bekas Canselor Jerman Angela Merkel terima anugerah tertinggi negara
Merkel memegang jawatan canselor dari 2005 hingga 2021.
Jerman hentikan operasi tiga loji nuklear terakhir
Jerman menghentikan operasi tiga loji tenaga nuklear terakhirnya pada Sabtu sebagai sebahagian daripada peralihan kepada tenaga boleh diperbaharui.
Canselor Jerman: Era pemerintahan Angela Merkel tamat selepas 16 tahun
Olaf Scholz secara rasmi dilantik sebagai Canselor Jerman yang baharu pada Rabu menggantikan Angela Merkel.
COVID-19: Jerman debat isu wajibkan vaksinasi
Pada Ahad, kes jangkitan koronavirus sepanjang tujuh hari lalu di Jerman meningkat ke paras tertinggi sejak wabak itu bermula untuk hari ke-14 berturut-turut.
COVID-19: Jerman bakal kenakan peraturan baharu
Peraturan baharu itu akan dibawa ke Parlimen untuk diluluskan hari ini.
COVID-19: Angela Merkel rayu rakyat Jerman segera dapatkan vaksin
Ini kerana, kata Merkel, kadar jangkitan COVID-19 di negara itu mencecah angka baharu tertinggi dengan bilangan korban turut meningkat.
Sekatan Jerman terhadap minyak sawit berdasarkan kepada maklumat palsu
Sekatan Jerman terhadap minyak sawit adalah berdasarkan kepada maklumat palsu dan secara sengaja tidak merujuk kepada fakta alam sekitar.
Parti Canselor Angela Merkel mula kempen pilihan raya secara rasmi
Parti Kristian Demokrat (CDU) yang kini dipimpin Armin Laschet berharap dapat terus mentadbir negara selepas Merkel umum mahu mengundur diri.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Jerman bakal kenakan caj ujian COVID-19 kepada yang enggan terima vaksin
Tiada lagi ujian saringan COVID-19 percuma untuk golongan yang enggan menerima vaksin, kata Canselor Angela Merkel pada Selasa.