President Joe Biden says the United States has restored its presence on the world stage as he used his first overseas trip since taking office to connect with a new generation of leaders from some of the world's most powerful countries.
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As he wrapped three days of what he called "an extraordinarily collaborative and productive meeting" at the Group of Seven summit of wealthy democracies, Biden said there was "genuine enthusiasm" for his engagement.
"America's back in the business of leading the world alongside nations who share our most deeply held values," Biden said at a news conference on Sunday before leaving Cornwall to pay for a visit with the Queen at Windsor Castle.
"I think we've made progress in re-establishing American credibility among our closest friends."
The president, who is on an eight-day, three-country trip, left his mark on the G7 by announcing a commitment to share 500 million coronavirus vaccine doses with the world and pressing allies to do the same.
The leaders on Sunday confirmed their intent to donate more than one billion doses to low-income countries in the next year.
He also fought for the leaders' joint statement to include specific language criticising China's use of forced labour and other human rights abuses as he worked to cast the rivalry with Beijing as the defining competition for the 21st century.
Leaders also embraced his call for a 15 per cent global minimum corporate tax rate.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said nations need to be able to deal with China from a position of strength and unity.
"I think what the president was able to do in these last couple of days was bring countries closer together in dealing with some of the challenges posed by China," he told CBS News.
The other G7 allies did their part in creating the impression that Biden was part of "the Club" and sought to help reinforce Biden's "America is back" mantra.
"We're totally on the same page," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said of Biden.
At the summit, Biden met France's Emmanuel Macron for the first time, and the two acted like old friends.
Macron did not utter Donald Trump's name but offered an unambiguous shot at the former president.
Macron noted his relief that with Biden, he was now working with an American president "willing to co-operate".
"What you demonstrate is leadership is partnership," Macron said of Biden.
Most European allies had been disenchanted with Trump's grumbling of "global freeloaders" and espousing an "America First" policy, so Biden had the challenge of convincing a sceptical audience that the last US administration was not a harbinger of a more insular country.
Australian Associated Press
