News Snapshot:
T he G20 is a suspiciously round number. To qualify as a G7 nation, you must both have a large economy and be a liberal democracy – hence Russia’s expulsion several years ago. The G20 on the other hand is comprised of 19 nations plus the EU. “Everybody wants the smallest possible group that includes them,” was Barack Obama’s pithy retort to complaints about the guest list. A wider membership with more relaxed rules of entry – you are allowed to repress your own people/invade other nations – makes for trickier conversations. It is also how you get Joe Biden...
