Theresa May and EU leaders meet Obama for talks in Germany
Sanctions against Russia and the threat from Islamic State are among the "global issues" discussed by the six leaders in Berlin.
Saturday 19 November 2016 08:22, UK
Theresa May has joined an informal summit of President Barack Obama and the leaders of Germany, France, Italy and Spain as the US President makes his final European tour before handing over the reins of power to President-elect Donald Trump.
The six leaders - representing five of the G7 members - discussed "pressing global issues", including extending sanctions against Russia for its intervention in Ukraine and possible new sanctions for its bombing of Syria.
They also talked about the threat from IS in Iraq, Syria and Libya, and discussed mass migration and trade issues.
Gathered around a circular table in Mrs Merkel's Chancellery, the leaders exchanged pleasantries but made no substantive remarks as the meeting started.
Before the talks, Mrs May had a brief conversation with Mr Obama. British sources said their "brush-by" discussion was about the ongoing relationship between London and Washington "rather than the US election result".
Mrs May is also due to have a bilateral meeting with Chancellor Merkel to discuss Brexit - although the Prime Minister has no other formal meetings with the leaders of France, Italy or Spain.
It comes after President Obama issued a parting snub to the "special relationship", naming the German leader as his closest international partner of the last eight years.
President Obama and Chancellor Merkel issued a joint rebuttal to the incoming era of Mr Trump on Thursday, penning an op-ed for more transatlantic cooperation on security, climate trade and trade.
While never mentioning the incoming president by name, the two leaders upbraided some of Mr Trump's foreign policy positions.
They praised the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) - which Mr Trump has cast doubt over - as the cornerstone of peace.
Mr Obama and Mrs Merkel also reiterated their commitment and support for the Paris Agreement to cut global emissions, an accord from which Mr Trump has threatened to withdraw.
The leaders' statements after the summit will be watched carefully to see how President Obama and his European allies position themselves in relation to the President-elect.
European leaders will want guidance from Mr Obama on his successor's approach to NATO, after the President said last week that Donald Trump wanted to maintain NATO relationships after a meeting with his successor in the White House.
The world will be watching too to see what leaders will say on Syria and Ukraine after President-elect Trump signalled a possible rapprochement with Vladimir Putin during his election campaign.
This in turn has raised questions over the future of the sanctions regime brought in by Washington and Brussels in 2014 over Ukraine.
Number 10 said Mrs May would press for "continued condemnation of the ongoing offensive of the Syrian regime in Aleppo".
Asked whether the leaders would issue a statement of condemnation against Syria's Assad, the Prime Minister's spokesperson said: "We will clearly push how we resolve the situation in Syria, we must be united in calling for a sustained ceasefire."
The meeting between Mrs May and European leaders comes after another awkward week for UK-EU relations after Boris Johnson was accused of "insulting" an Italian minister