Core 5 group of countries, why now?

Politico magazine flashed a news item about Trump contemplating a proposal of forming Core 5 group of countries. The White House has dismissed it. But there cannot be smoke without fire. Surely it is a Trumpian idea that is in the incubator.

Trump considers himself as a change agent who could bring back the lost glory of America being an exceptional nation and as the leader of the globe too. Here is my take on the strategic analysis of the Core 5 Group:

1. Trump has only 3 more years as President. His chance of regaining Presidency in 2008 is slim. His style of administering US state does not receive much adulation. One thing he can do that would add to his credential is weaning America away from the capitalistic cabal who have ruined US during the last few decades.

2. The existing G7 group consisting of US along with six others, namely Canada, France Germany, Italy, Japan and UK is fairly passive in Geoeconomics performance but do excel in making avowed declarations regarding freedom, democracy and host of other noble ideas that have no relevance to the “dog eat dog” competitive economy prevailing today. Briefly, Russia was corralled in to make it G8 but the romance ended with the onset of Ukraine war resulting in the expulsion of the new bride.

3. “Is the G7 still relevant”  is the question asked by many researchers including Raffaele Trombetta, Italian ambassador to UK during 2018-22 who could not find much to substantiate its relevance in today’s context.

4. Being action oriented and also infatuated with the idea of being a great “deal maker” Trump wants to bring an active forum of nations  based on hard power with geoeconomics matrix of population, military prowess, manufacturing capacity, trade and techno leadership along with global influence. He identified three vital countries to be incorporated into a new alliance dubbed as “Core 5”. These are Russia, India, and China, of the famous “Primakov Triangle”, along with retaining Japan from the existing G7 group.

5. Trump seeks to abandon Atlanticism an umbilical cord that bound USA with the European continent. Even UK the Anglo-Saxon brother is to be axed. When these countries are not part of the new grouping it spells doom to NATO as military alliance. Trump often complains that NATO bleeds money from the US Treasury since its formation in 1949.

6. Trump is desperate to get new countries on board mainly because US hegemony cannot be continued unless America pally with them. For example, Russia and China are land powers. Russia as the resource rich country, China as technology power and India with the middle class population of more than 500 million could collectively help “Make America Great Again”

7. More than anything else Trump wants to re-format the UN Security Council by bringing India as a permanent veto carrying member.

For all intents and purposes Core 5 Group appears to be a feasible alternative to the present G7 Group. In terms of “strategy amid geoeconomics” Core 5 Group is sound but when it comes to geopolitics Trump would face too many roadblocks.

 

Cheers!

 

Muthu Ashraff Rajulu

Strategy Adviser

Mobile: + 94 777 265677

E-mail: cosmicgems@gmail.com

Blog:   Strategy Adviser