Photo/Illutration U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a news conference after attending the G-7 summit, on June 13 at Cornwall Airport in Newquay, England. (AP Photo)

It is not necessarily a blessing for a new sales representative to succeed someone who was exceptionally good at their job.

Chances are that clients will compare the newcomer with their great predecessor, remembering how the latter went out of their way to work out special, sweet deals.

But if the predecessor was never liked, that would present a good opportunity for the newcomer to endear themselves to the clients and win their trust.

U.S. President Joe Biden appears to have taken full advantage of that situation at the Group of Seven summit in Cornwall, Britain. 

He was able to score points for just "not being (Donald) Trump."

U.S.-Europe relations were severely damaged during the Trump years. Bitter disagreements over global warming and trade issues caused a summit declaration to be shelved.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, last year's G-7 summit, hosted by the United States, was held only virtually. But that must have been a relief for the European leaders.

"America is back," Biden declared, and these words symbolized the Cornwall summit.

A European diplomat told a British daily newspaper to the effect that everyone is delighted that America has returned, but the U.S. leadership intends to make demands of Europe.

The decline of the U.S. presence in the global economy began before the Trump era.

Perhaps America is back now with its ways of leading the international community and asking all other nations to shoulder their respective burdens.

America says focusing on infrastructure investment in the developing world should keep China in check, but how much will individual nations be able to contribute?

A summit communique called for "peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait" for the first time. But what procedures are being envisioned for containing China without inviting a conflict?

This is no time for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to be rejoicing over winning G-7 support for the Tokyo Olympics.

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 15

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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