Andrew Hammond

The countdown is underway for the G7 summit of industrialized democracies in France in June. However, another big event in September — the BRICS+ leadership meetings — is attracting at least as much global attention.

The US has traditionally excelled at developing soft power. However, those historical patterns appear to be shifting, significantly, under Donald Trump’s second presidency, creating opportunities for other powers, especially China.

G7 trade ministers met in Paris last week for a key meeting focused on enhancing the West’s critical mineral supplies. However, the really big event in this year’s French presidency comes next month, with the leadership meeting hosted by President Emmanuel Macron.

Much pomp and pageantry accompanied the four-day visit by UK King Charles and Queen Camilla to the US. However, beneath all the gloss, the tour may have been one of the most important undertaken by any British monarch since at least the 1950s Suez crisis.

The old adage among travelers and commuters is that one often waits a long time for a bus or train, then two or three arrive at once. Turning to the global landscape, the same appears true of EU trade deals.