The Russian president took his revenge on Britain’s PM by using the G20 summit to expose divisions on Syria
In his worst nightmares, David Cameron could not have imagined he would end this week redefined as leader of a “small island no one pays any attention to”. Yet, thanks to the brutal wit of one of Vladimir Putin’s aides, that is the tag he carries home on his chartered jet from St Petersburg tonight.
The big drama of the G20 summit was, of course, the dramatic showdown between Putin and Barack Obama over military action in Syria. But between the powerplays of the Big Two was a delicious sub-plot of how Putin exacted payback for the way Cameron isolated him at the G8 talks in Northern Ireland three months ago.
Wind back to the scene on the shores of Lough Erne in June, another gathering overshadowed by divisions over how to tackle Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. Then, as now, the host used a dinner to put the squeeze on his rival.
Cameron, the G8 summit chair, was pursuing his own initiative to drive Assad to the negotiating table. The Prime Minister’s view is that a political settlement is possible if Assad is put under enough pressure, both military and political.
But from the very start Putin, Assad’s key ally, caused havoc, memorably branding Syrian rebels as bloody extremists who “kill their enemies and eat their organs”.
Then, as now, a dinner was the fulcrum of the summit. Cameron created a convivial atmosphere, with a relaxed dress code, a roaring fire and pints of Guinness to wash down Kettyle beef and apple crumble drenched in whiskey custard. If the mood music was relaxed, the politics were hard-nosed: Putin was outnumbered, and persuaded to agree to urge Assad to send representatives to new talks — which was then spun by No 10 as an agreement designed to ease Assad from power.
Last night’s dinner of caviar, blini and venison at the Peterhof Palace was another masterclass in summit machinations, which lasted between four and five hours. This time, however, it was not Putin but Obama who was being squeezed as leaders took their places in Peter the Great’s sumptuous palace.
Ever the showman, Putin fashioned an evening to express pride in his home town. He decided to resurrect a dying tradition of a summit cultural event, rarely held nowadays. In this case it was a “musical fountain show” featuring Russian dance, fireworks and lights immediately after dinner in the palace gardens and lasted a full hour. “I will count the heads that are lolling by the end of it,” said one hardened summiteer, grimacing at the prospect. Flattering his guests, Putin’s show included images of Tower Bridge and other icons.
Syria was explicitly off the formal G20 agenda, in keeping with the group’s origins as a summit of finance ministers. Officially, it was due only to be discussed in the margins, via bilaterals where like-minded allies can control what emerges. But at the very last minute Putin changed the rules, announcing a discussion between them all over the dinner table. Addressing the opening session, he said several participants had asked for time to discuss “very acute topics of international politics, in particular the situation around Syria”. He added: “I suggest we do this during dinner.”
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