The new U.S. president is relying is his political memory as he approaches relations with Europe. But the world no longer matches the memories. He will face significant new hurdles. Donald Trump made structural changes that will not be easy to undo.

The Trump administration’s “America First” style of unilateralism has alienated even longtime European allies. The leaders of France, Germany, the EU Commission, and China have all pledged themselves to support multilateralism — in a sign of the times, Trump’s America is left out in the cold.

Japan is brokering a joint statement on the South China Sea ruling with its counterparts in the Group of Seven (G-7) advanced economies as part of a "proactive diplomacy" drive, though its own reaction to the verdict tomorrow may be muted.

China has warned the Group of Seven (G7) countries against engaging in talks that might worsen tensions in the South China Sea, as leaders of the seven economic powers meet in Japan.

World leaders meet in Japan this week for talks that will encompass the slowing Chinese economy and China’s reclamation of land in the disputed South China Sea -- without any representatives from Asia’s largest economy at the table.

Foreign Ministers from the Group of Seven leading economies expressed concern over territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas where China has been more aggressively asserting its claims in recent years.