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Trump Lands in Germany; Trump Speaks on North Korea. Aired 11-12a ET

Aired July 06, 2017 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[11:00:01] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECKY ANDERSON, HOST, CNN: Endless applause and adoring chanting. It's pretty good to be the American president in Poland. An ego boosting welcome

just a couple of hours before Donald Trump meets the world's most powerful leaders.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAMEH SHOUKRY, EGYPT FOREIGN MINISTER: We are accusing the Qataris of supporting radical organizations and terrorist organizations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: An incredible claim in world wide exclusive, Egypt's foreign minister tells me what is next for Qatar. And.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The United States is prepared to use our considerable military forces.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Watch out, Pyongyang, Washington tells it and the world it's thinking over every option.

We are up and running, it's just after 7 o'clock in the UAE. I'm Becky Anderson. This is Connect The World on CNN.

Air Force One is wheels down in Hamburg, and Donald Trump is getting ready to make his big debut at some of the world's most powerful leaders. The

G20, as it is known, officially begins tomorrow. There is plenty happening today. In fact, Mr. Trump meets with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel

just as her deputy warns the U.S. may start a trade war with Europe. And then, of course, tomorrow, Mr. Trump's first face-to-face with Vladimir

Putin. The U.S. President arrived from Poland a short time ago, addressed cheering crowds there, some of whom were bussed in to join the love fest.

Mr. Trump reaffirmed the commitment that Poland and other NATO members were waiting to hear.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: The United States has demonstrated not merely with words but with its actions that we stand firmly behind Article 5, the

Mutual Defense Commitment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, earlier, he spoke alongside Poland's president taking questions on a range of issues on North Korea. We heard tough talk but no

specifics. And on Russia's election interference, well, it seems we're back to square one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I think it could very well have been Russia. But I think it well could have been other countries. And I won't be specific. But I think a lot

of people interfered. I think it's been happening for a long time. It's been happening for many, many years.

Mistakes have been made, I agree, I think it was Russia. But I think it was probably other people and/or countries. And I see nothing wrong with that

statement. Nobody really knows.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, this was as it were the practice act for Donald Trump ahead of the serious stuff as it were at the G20, let's take a look at just

what we might expect.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Of the world's most 20 powerful leaders gathering in Hamburg, these two will steal the spotlight.

TRUMP: If Putin likes Donald Trump, I consider that an asset not a liability.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is a brilliant and intelligent person, without a doubt.

WEDEMAN: And now, in Germany at the G20, they will under intense speculation about Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

TRUMP: I would love to be able to get along with Russia.

WEDEMAN: Trump has said so much about Putin in the past four years, 80 comments and counting. They're coming together could offer a filtering of

fact from fiction. And now, the poll-side meeting has been upgraded to a fully fledged bilat. But that doesn't mean President Trump will actually

bring up the election hacking. Indeed, don't count on any of the 20 leaders here agreeing on anything significant. They've rarely been less united.

Trump's last global outing, the G7, a month ago, saw him dissing his partners, flatly refusing to join them in endorsing the Paris Climate

Change Agreement, a topic on the G20 agenda. He has become not just disengaged, but estranged on the world stage.

[11:04:55] Putin, who has become a pariah at these events since he invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea, can expect more cold shoulders. All this as the

host, Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, goes to the polls later this year. She needs a successful summit. And she won't be the only one worried,

the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, who left the last G20, the leader of a democracy and returns an autocrat.

And then, the Saudis arriving with excess diplomatic baggage, a gulf standoff with Qatar is unlikely to grow positively at the G20. The cast of

characters is long and so is their list of problems. The British PM weakened needing new friends. Perhaps the ray on the horizon, the new

French President Macron, who bounced into his first global outing in May, signaling to Trump, he is not first among equals. A message you will likely

hear in his bilat with Putin, too.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, likely landing then with a spring in his step after the reaction that he got in talking about the U.S. president here in Poland,

Warsaw in Poland, now in Hamburg, and mixed -- in Hamburg and nixed report, setting up until -- let's get to you Warsaw there and to, and to Ben

Wedeman there. Ben, how would you describe his performance in what was sort of the practice act as it were before he got -- before the U.S. president

got to Germany?

WEDEMAN: well, certainly, this was I think what the Trump administration had in mind for this trip, starting it off in Poland, where they were

almost certain to have a warm reception. And that is largely what he got. He attended this three seas initiative meeting. He had a press conference

where he said some things might have raised some eyebrows in the United States, but he made the speech at the site of the memorial for the Warsaw

uprising and the reception was very positive. He heard a lot of applause. In fact, there is sort of applause he might have been accustomed from the

campaign trail in the United States. And certainly, the people we spoke to who attended that speech were very enthusiastic beforehand and afterwards

as well. They we heard what they wanted to hear from the president of the United States, words of appreciation and praise for Poland's struggle

against Germany, against Russia, and its triumph over communism and Poland's strong position in the western world as it is today.

There was a small demonstration against Trump just up the street from this speech. And during the speech, the demonstrators tried to make as much

noise as possible, but there are only about 200 of them. And I don't think President Trump we heard their cries for him to leave, to go home. And I

think he will be arriving in Germany with something of an ego boost. Becky.

ANDERSON: Well, if he's got a spring in his step, let's find out. And now that he is wheel bound, Ben, just what it is that would make this trip a

success for him. Nic Robertson joining us from Hamburg. What is the administration taking into these meetings and clearly, the meeting with the

Russian president is front and center here, what are they taking in, what do they want to get out of all of this?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, they're clearly taking in the carefully scripted message that President Trump gave in the

big Central Square in the middle of Warsaw. And that was one that Russia needs to stop being, you know, a distraction, a country that is -- you

know, fermenting problems in Ukraine and other places. President Trump said -- but that was what they intended to take in. But he's also sort of

carrying in with him to that meeting his unscripted comments where he was asked about Russian meddling in the U.S. elections, and he appeared to back

away from the assessment of his intelligence chiefs saying that he didn't believe that all 17 of his agencies as has been widely stated and reported

actually believe that Russia was solely responsible. He said that Russia was responsible, but there were probably other countries and other people.

And that's not the broadly articulated narrative of the United States' principle intelligence agencies. So he's carrying into that meeting with

president -- with President Putin, a mixed narrative. One that's scripted that the White House and the State Department want him to bring in, one

that perhaps comes a little more from his heart. And we know that for President Putin prepares well for his meetings, as a former intelligence

agent, himself. So we will be trying to exploit the differences between the script and the off-script, if you will, and try to sort of exploit

President Trump's own thoughts, own concerns, own worries, that perhaps his intelligence agencies aren't giving him accurate information. Of course, he

will try to deliver that tough message on Ukraine that Putin needs to get out of Ukraine. And that's the only way to get sanctions lifted.

[11:10:31] ANDERSON: So as you rightly pointed out, this is a president who prepares well, I'm talking about the Russian president here. He has

scripted an article for a German newspaper today. What do you say considered as railed jabs at Trump's trade policies ahead of this meeting.

What do you say are damaging, if, at all, is that article for the U.S. president?

ROBERTSON: Well, he is -- sure, I mean, I think some of this is for his own personal audience and there is obviously a wider narrative. I mean, what

Putin is saying here is that sanctions don't work. And of course, he's under huge, hard, tough sanctions for annexing Crimea and supporting and

putting forces inside Eastern Ukraine. And so, what he is saying is, these things aren't going to work, essentially, we're not going to back down. But

it has a second jewel line.

And who knows if he wrote this before the U.N. Security Council. He heard the proposition from the United States, the tougher sanctions on North

Korea, where President Trump is going to want to get support here and not get vetos from the likes of China and Russia at the U.N. Security Council.

He's going to want to get their support on the issue of tougher sanctions on North Korea. So already, you see, President Putin in some ways has shot

that down.

But on trade, there is a wide gap between President Putin and President Trump. And many of the leaders here, not just President Putin, Angela

Merkel, her foreign minister, have both articulated the sense that the United States, heard it boldly from the European Union, they sense that

United States sees globalism as a way to enrich some, and not others, you know, money for the rich. Whereas Angela Merkel says she sees it,

globalization should be a win-win. Both the bosses and the workers should do well out of it. There is a broad gulf you know on many issues here

facing President Trump.

ANDERSON: All right. Better in Warsaw. Nic is in Hamburg. There is a lot more at CNN politics. That is all. Thank you, Chaps.

So, President Trump says he is not drawing any red lines on North Korea, but clearly, the country's latest missile test has rattled the United

States and the world. And it is sure to be high on the agenda during G20. Mr. Trump says he is considering, "pretty severe things to respond to what

he calls North Korea's dangerous behavior," a position echoed by the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NIKKI HALEY, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: The United States is prepared to use a full range of our capabilities to defend ourselves and our allies.

One of our capabilities lies with our considerable military forces. We will use them, if we must. But we prefer not to have to go in that direction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, despite the posturing, experts say any type of military strike would be disastrous. David Mackenzie is joining us now from

neighboring Seoul. David, the fear is, and the bottom line is here, that any military action can provoke a devastating counterattack against South

Korea, even regional war, right?

DAVID MACKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right. And the war never stopped, in fact, there was just a rest after the Korean War. And so,

technically, the two states have been at war since then and you have the situation, Becky, that just across the DMZ, that North Korea has artillery

pieces that could hit Seoul, this highly populated city just next door. So any kind of military escalation could be catastrophic and that's the

opinion of pretty much most experts you speak to on the Korean issue.

And with that ICBM test, though, it has ratcheted up the pressure on all the parties concerned to try to come up with some kind of solution. You had

President Trump there in Warsaw saying, that he's coming from a position of strength, but he is also a bit vague about it. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: As far as North Korea is concerned, I don't know. We'll see what happens. I don't like to talk about what I have planned, but I have some

pretty severe things that we're thinking about. That doesn't mean we're going to do them. I think we'll just take a look at what happens over the

coming weeks and months with respect to North Korea. It's a shame that they're behaving this way, but they are behaving in a very, very dangerous

manner, and something will have to be done about it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[11:15:12] MCKENZIE: Well, there are only two options, Becky, talks, which seem slim at best and more sanctions. Becky.

ANDERSON: President Trump blasted China, David, for increasing trade with North Korea. He dismissed Beijing for not working with the U.S., but that

trade could be fuelling a North Korean building boom it seems. The New York Times highlighting several projects, apartments, ski resort, and amusement

park, but it also points out they could have been funded through bank hacking or weapons sales. Any perspective on that where you are?

MCKENZIE: Well, certainly, here in Seoul, there has long been accusations that there are these shadowy banking relationships between entities both

private and potentially quasi-government that are you know using those financial ties that money laundering to push up, prop up the North Korean

regime, using, you know legitimate construction and other issues in North Korea, as kind of a shadow that is in fact being used for military means.

You've had several analysts saying, well, the truck that helped take that missile to the spot to launch earlier this week was a Chinese truck. That

isn't necessarily breaking any sanctions directly, but it does point to a bigger issue here.

The U.S. is trying to expand its sanctions, I believe, to cover issues like those business ties, those financial ties, those shadowy networks that work

through Northeast Asia and into Southeast Asia, according to U.N. panel of experts. And that really help keep the North Korean regime taking over. And

so, it's very hard to tease out the difference between something that ends up in military spending and something on legitimate things for the North

Korean people. And that will lead to complications when it comes to Security Council discussions on furthering sanctions, something that Russia

and China, if the U.S. goes too far, will almost certainly veto from their perspective. Becky.

ANDERSON: You are reporting now from South Korea, this evening, viewers. Thank you, David.

Still to come tonight, the Egyptian foreign minister tells me what the next steps in the Qatar crisis are. That exclusive interview up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: A month on it, it seems the two political feuds that have engulfed the gulf is set to stretch on in Cairo on Wednesday. The top

diplomats from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt stood resolute in their countries' demand that Doha stop supporting terrorism. If you were

with us last night, you will have seen that live here on this show, a charge the tiny nation denies. Meanwhile, Qatar signals it will not be

cowed. My colleague, Christiane Amanpour, spoke to the Qatari foreign minister in London.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, HOST, CNN: What is Qatar's response to these demands?

[11:20:01] ABDULLAH BIN NASSER BIN KHALIFA AL THANI, QATARI PRIME MINISTER: Well, mainly if you are looking at the demands, there are accusations that

they are supporting terrorism. They are shutting a face beach, shutting the media outlets, expelling even oppositions, violating the international law

with their own citizenship from some of the people and they turn them back home. So there are a lot of demands which are against the international

law.

AMANPOUR: And you say you are not going to comply?

AL THANI: We are not going to comply with anything against the international law. We are not going to have something which can just single

out Qatar.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, earlier, I spoke with the Egyptian foreign minister saying an exclusive interview with him by asking him about Qatar's response and

what happens next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHOUKRY: It was disappointing that the response from Qatar, it was totally void of any substance and was a denial of taking any steps or measures that

would respond to the legitimate requests of the four countries.

ANDERSON: What are the options? What happens next?

SHOUKRY: Well, we will consider and deliberate and decide on further measures that would encourage the Qatari government to change its policy in

terms of supporting terrorists, harboring terrorists, persons on its standards continuing to provide arms to radical organizations. And we

believe that this is in conformity with the international coalition against Daish and against ISIL.

ANDERSON: The minister of state of foreign affairs here in the UAE tweeted this, this morning. Next, greater isolation, incremental measures and

reputational damage stemming from Doha's continued support for extremism and terrorism. He said for any real discussion with Doha to gain traction,

it has to be responsible for past actions and recognize the necessity of changing course. Qatar can't miss the bus, he said. What did he mean by

that?

SHOUKRY: Qatar needs to show through policies, through measures that it is relinquishing previous practices of support of radicalism and terrorist

organizations. And the interjection and the internal affairs of the states of the region and we see the level of damage, the level of the human

suffering that has been associated to interventions by Qatar in this area and Libya, and the heavy price that Egypt has to play in the loss of life,

civilian life, and that of its military and police force, women and children. The last instance being the tragic events of the Egyptian

Christians on their way to the monastery for prayers that were targeted so brutally by terrorist organizations.

So the terrorist organizations, wherever they operate, are one unit and one supporting entities and any form of support to them at any level is a

direct affront to our security and that of our citizens.

ANDERSON: Foreign minister, are you accusing that Qataris are being involved in that attack?

SHOUKRY: We are accusing the Qataris of supporting radical organizations and terrorist organizations, and we have always indicated that through

response to terrorism must be comprehensive. We cannot deal with one organization and neglect the other. That all of these organizations are re-

enforcing to each other and we have seen and have monitored and have evidence related to the activities of the cooperation that exists between

various organizations operating both in the Middle East, and in Africa, and in Europe.

ANDERSON: Is the group accusing them of supporting extremism and terrorism, the group you belong to prepared to share that intelligence with

the Qataris and with the rest of the world?

SHOUKRY: Well, I'm sure you are aware, the case with most states, among them, the United States of America, when issues are related to intelligence

and to sources are dealt within appropriate channels and are dealt with great sensitivity to protect sources and to protect the information and its

collection process. We only have one motivation and that is for Qatar to change course and desist from the destabilizing activity it has been

perpetrating over the last 10 to 20 years.

ANDERSON: And President Trump spoke with the Egyptian president on Tuesday, and called on all parties to negotiate constructively to resolve

this dispute. The sort of language coming up from both sides sounds with respect anything but constructive at this point. What role, the Americans

in helping mediate this?

[11:25:05] SHOUKRY: Well, we are, of course, in close contact with the United States of America, President Trump posed indications during his

participation of the American Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh and our direct communications with the president and his administration, it has always led

us to rely on the president's firm commitment to eradicating terrorism and radicalism from the world, and doing so, through very constructive and

definite measures. The yesterday's conversation reiterated that same policy, and we look forward to continuing cooperating closely on the United

States and our other international partners to the full eradication of terrorism.

ANDERSON: On the demand from the quartet to shut down Al-Jazeera, they told CNN there is not a chance AJ will be shot down. He said out of the

question and supported by U.N. Special Rapporteur freedom of expression and opinion, who said the move would be a blow against media pluralism in the

Middle East. And this is an organization that quite frankly Egypt has a check in history with. Is this still a demand and do you aspire to see a

free and healthy press across the Middle East?

SHOUKRY: I would think that you would be more attuned to the fact that all freedom of expression is somehow guided by certain moral principles which

have to be applied, that there are restrictions. There are areas like pedophilia, like other issues that are not provided the opportunity to air

and to be accosted, neither should there be any tolerance for hate and agitation and the projection of terrorist activities in any manner that

creates sympathy for these organizations or for this ideology.

And if we are true to our determination to eradicate terrorism, we must eradicate the ideology that is unfortunately on many occasions and on a

sublime manner being projected by media outlets in Qatar. So I think we all know how that broadcast organization has been taking advantage of its

outreach and how it has been projecting and glorifying terrorist activities. Most recently, they aired a piece about snipers shooting

Egyptian soldiers at their posts, guarding their posts. That is not a glorification of activities that I think should be deplored.

ANDERSON: So when you hear the Qatari airfare in a speech in the house on Tuesday say the following, above all, and unlike many states in the Middle

East, Qatar was not built on oppression, fear and censorship. You say what?

SHOUKRY: I would refer to you whether there have been any elections in Qatar, whether the leadership of Qatar is elected, whether there are

elected institutions of governance as is in Egypt and other countries. I believe we have to be realistic when we discuss issues of this and not try

to project a false sense of status quo.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: The thoughts of the Egyptian foreign minister. We are a month in. Who knows how long this will stretch on for a refresher on what's

driving these prices and you know, I said this before and I'll say it again, what goes on in the gulf does not stay in the gulf. Do use CNN

digital sites and check out our article, unraveling the origins of this very, very complex rawl. When it comes to western states watching this rawl

develop, there is a big complicating factor. Qatar has some pretty landmark investments in Europe quite literally in the case of London. The expensive

details are just ahead.

[11:29:31] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: You are watching Connect The World. Our top stories for you this hour, just after a half past 7 from the UAE, with a base in the Middle

East. U.S. President Donald Trump says he is considering, "pretty severe things to respond to North Korea's latest missile test."

And the ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, says the U.S. is prepared to use military force, if it must. Experts say that could have disastrous

consequences.

Mr. Trump himself is now in Germany, getting to meet with the chancellor there, Angela Merkel, in the next hour. He is making his debut at the G20

summit, which officially begins tomorrow.

Earlier in Poland, Mr. Trump reaffirmed the U.S.' commitment to NATO's collective defense. And he is facing a whole list of issues as he sits down

with other world leaders at this G20 summit ahead of his meeting with Chancellor Merkel, a warning from Germany's foreign minister that the U.S.

and Europe might be heading for a trade war. On Friday, President Trump holds his first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Will he

bring up Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election? That, of course, as North Korea and Syria to worry about, plus domestic issues such

as healthcare and his war with the media.

Well, joining us now to talk more about all of these issues in Trump's world is CNN's military and diplomatic analyst John Kirby in Washington,

and CNN senior correspondent Ivan Watson in Moscow. Standby, Ivan. John, let's begin with you. Administration official have told CNN that the

president plans to focus heavily on the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine. In his meeting with Putin on Friday, little expectation we are told that Trump

will confront Russia over its attempts to influence the 2016 election. Surprising?

JOHN KIRBY, CNN DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY ANALYST: Oh, sadly no, Becky. I think it's great that he is going to talk about Syria and Ukraine. These

are two major issues in the way of better bilateral relations between the United States and Russia. We have obviously significant differences with

the way they are behaving in both places and on the European continent. But I think this is a missed opportunity for President Trump to talk about this

election meddling.

And you know, even if he doesn't want to do it retrospectively looking at 2016, because I know -- I believe he thinks that any discussion of meddling

challenges the legitimacy of his win, he should at least raise it going forward. We have a midterm election in 2018 in this country, another

presidential election in 2020. And we can expect Russia will continue to try to cyber hack and intrude and affect those elections. This is a chance

for him to put a marker down and say, no, we're not going forward, we know what you did.

But you know, you we heard him today when asked at his press conference about Russia's meddling, he refused again to actually lay it right on their

footsteps, even though -- on their door steps, excuse me, even though 17 intelligence agencies here in the United States confirmed without question

that Russia hacked into our election.

[11:35:15] ANDERSON: Ivan, what is the narrative from the Kremlin ahead of all of this?

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Well, Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, today said he regretted that at this stage, Moscow and the Russian

government simply don't know what Washington wants going into this meeting. Now, that could be a little bit of rhetoric there. But I think it's a sign

of the dramatically lowered expectations that Moscow is showing from as recently as last January when there was so much excitement here in official

circles about the inauguration of Donald Trump, who had talked about trying to build diplomatic relations with Russia.

I don't think that the Russian government would have liked really much of what President Trump had to say in his speech and the press conference in

Warsaw when he singled out Russia and what he described as destabilizing activities in the Ukraine and elsewhere. That is not going to be well

received over here. I also don't think that the Russians would like to hear him talking about trying to break a monopoly of energy supplies to Eastern

Europe by providing alternate energy supplies that hits Russia in its pocketbooks, since it is effectively the gas station for Eastern European

countries like Poland. The Russians have indicated that perhaps there is one area where the two presidents could perhaps cooperate. And that is

Syria.

The conflict there, where both governments have the stated goal of defeating terrorists on the ground there, and that is something that

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also indicated there might be the possibility for a move forward on that front. So expect that that might be

one area where these two leaders could communicate and could, perhaps, find a way forward. Their militaries are operating in very close proximity in

battlefield conditions in that theater of conflict. Becky.

ANDERSON: I think we would all agree for the sake of Syria, one hopes there is a sensible discussion had about that country. John, President

Trump's last big meeting in Europe was at the NATO summit in Brussels in late May. Remember this? Mr. Trump appeared to shove his way past the Prime

Minister of Montenegro, as he tried to make his way to the front of the pack. He may have to keep his hands to himself this time around, John,

especially with Russia and China in town. How is he going to handle that briefly do you think?

KIRBY: I think these are going to be tense discussions with President Xi and President Putin. As I said, these are two of the most consequential

bilateral relationships the United States has, China mostly from an economic perspective, although there are security issues in Russia

obviously as Ivan laid out from a security perspective. And we don't see eye-to-eye with either of them on many of these issues. Plus, now, you have

a growing sort of I don't want to say alliance, but a growing bilateral relationship between Russia and China largely because of the fear being

isolated or surrounded by the West.

Now, they have a common -- both have a common border with North Korea. They have found some common cause there, issued sort of a pre-key statement

about a week ago, about you know how both sides, the U.S. and the South Koreans as well as the North Koreans can bring down the tensions there. So

I think this is going to be -- these are going to be tough discussions that he has because although there is common cause on some issues, the bigger

issues, there isn't.

ANDERSON: Very briefly, Ivan, this is a G20 meeting, used to be the meeting of finance ministers, of course. This is a man, the U.S. president

who is nothing if not transactional, the Russian president in a German paper has taken a real jab at the president's trade policies, railed intent

there or perhaps not even railed I guess?

WATSON: I thought some of this was remarkable. He was talking about free trade and banking regulations and support of the Paris climate accords,

which will probably be music to the ears of the host nation, Germany, and a number of the other European powers there. And quite striking to see, the

Russian president lining up with supporters of the Paris accords, which include China, by the way. Another indication that Trump will be left out

in the cold on that issue.

ANDERSON: So both of you, thank you, busy times. From Abu Dhabi, this is Connect The World.

Coming up, a landlord with more London real estate than the British queen. Political ambitions about to be curbed? That's next.

[11:40:12] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, a standoff between Qatar and four other Arab nations started in the Middle East, but it will be by no means stay there as we

have been hearing in recent days. Doha has splashed the cash liberally in European capitals, finding landmark real estate in cities like Paris and

London over the years. They are planning even more investment. With these latest crises derail their ambitions while emerging markets with strong

turns, looking at the figure, he joins us now, live from the very streets of London that are awash, it has to be said, with Qatari money. John, is it

a classic case where money equates influence and goes far beyond just an investment?

JOHN DEFTERIOS, EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Yeah, I think it's a fair bet to say, Becky. Money influence goes hand in glove in this instance, I'm

standing behind the circus, just behind me. Go about mile down the road, here in the heart of Mayfair where Qatar has a very large presence. The

long and short of it, back in 1992, we discovered LNG, sort of shipping around the world and transferring that money right into the heart of

London. But the questions being asked as you noted, Becky, can they sustain this level of investment going forward depending how long this embargo

last? Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From it co-ownership of the 4 million square meter of the office space in an estate in the east, to the Western Europe's tallest

building in the financial district. Qatar owns a large chunk of modern skyline.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEFTERIOS: But as the portfolio extends, the fable British institutions as well, such as Harrods, which it bought back in 2010 for a reported $2.3

billion, adding the high-end hotel luxury collection of boutique hotels right here in London. It boils down to the science of Qatar's sovereign

fund. Qatar has been acquiring assets in Central London for years. And with new additions like the U.S. embassy here in Mayfair, which will become yet

another luxury hotel, the tiny built state owns more of the capital than the queen, herself. And buying big has bought them legacy and influence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIM MACPHERSON: I think they have been the number one force behind high end development in Central London over the last decade, with their acquisition

of hotels, with their acquisition of Harrods and various other buildings that they brought, I think they have driven the London property market

forward and I think that they have changed the landscape of what is possible and what can be achieved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEFTERIOS: After two decades of exporting gas, Qatar has built a $335 billion war chest, allowing the former emir and former prime minister to

embark on grand plans that went well beyond property.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEFFEN HERTOG, LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS: I do think it's bold and it was in line with the general diplomatic strategy of Qatar. It was very bold,

very not exactly a risk, very outward looking, which now in the case, in the context of the Qatar crisis, come back to buy the country leadership.

[11:45:01] DEFTERIOS: Qatar promised to invest over $6 billion in the U.K. and over $10 billion in the U.S. doing so with high profile press

conferences on both sides of the pond. But with a diplomatic route, lower gas prices and the World Cup to prepare for, Qatar may be forced to rethink

its priorities.

HERTOG: How much of that can they actually do, how much money they actually have to deploy given the increases the costs at home is a different

question.

DEFTERIOS: It is a multi-billion dollar question that can't be answered yet. As Qatar ponders whether this boycott dances grand designs abroad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEFTERIOS: And we often know Qatar and its investments in property in London and stretching into the United States, particularly in New York,

but, Becky, a vast array of stock holdings as well in blue chip companies in the U.K., Barclays, Royal Dutch Shell, London Heathrow, and the parents

of British Airway doesn't get more British than that, the IAG group, which raised the stake to 20 percent. There is no discussion right now about

liquidation. Again, it really depends on how deep these sanctions go in the future, Becky, and how long this crisis lasts.

ANDERSON: John Defterios on the streets of London. John, thank you for that, finding out exactly why what goes on in the gulf doesn't stay there.

The crisis in Qatar just over a month old and there has been a lot back and forth with starkly different views of the same fact.

Connect The World has been bringing you the key voices and analyses from the region in the past four weeks. Here is how it all unfolded.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: We break down what is pretty much a family feud on steroids. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE are united against cancer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Qatar is a small state, tries to really now curve a bigger role for itself in the region, by supporting Islamists.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is much more than just severing of diplomatic ties.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you hoping to accomplish from the young emir of Qatar?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Egypt, and other countries you know are fed up with this sort of duplicity that we've seen

that has undermining the region.

ANDERSON: The political crisis in the gulf is threatening to tear this family apart. This doctor is a Qatari single mother. Her children are

citizens. In gulf countries, children take the citizens of their father. And when Bahrain along with other countries severed ties with Qatar this

month, it ordered its national to leave Qatar immediately.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I never thought we'd have to leave our own country, in the gulf region.

ANDERSON: This is a real time look at the planes Qatar Airways has in the skies. Nothing over Saudi because they are banned.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This blockade that has happened has been unprecedented in the history of aviation when neighboring countries have blocked a

country with land, sea, and the air.

ANDERSON: There were initial scenes of panic flying in empty shelves. But the government was quick to reassure people that it was prepared for a

scenario like this one.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have some of our supplies, which are coming from the land border. But we have another alternative, which we are prepared for.

ANDERSON: Saudis say it has cut ties because and I quote of your country's embrace of various terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at destabilizing

the region.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The entire crisis is being based on misinformation.

ANDERSON: This definitive list of demands, 13 of them, were released and the 23rd of June with a 10-day deadline. We have to consider what happens

if as it seems likely Doha refuses to negotiate on any of these.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The things they are considering are going to make it more difficult for Qatar economically.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is a political and economic boycott. This will continue until Qatar modifies its policies for the better.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If anyone was waiting for the next stems are, and I think Qataris and the entire world, really, we did not get that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: How it unfolded, what a month it has been and it continues. Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect The World.

Coming up, we look at how fluffy tails and cuddly bodies are making the world of politics a little easier. And it is up next.

And GI Joe, some of the world leaders are showing off their latest and manliest moves.

[11:49:50] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, it's just France's new president sailing down a rope from a helicopter to a submarine. While he

may be politics' latest in James Bond, he's not the only leader that likes to take a turn of being action man. Here is, who else, but CNN's Jeanne

Moos.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Pick the most testosterone fueled leader, is it President Putin, President Trump, or is it France's 39-year-old

president after tweeting out a photo of himself being lowered from a chopper to the deck of a French nuclear sub. Comparisons were made.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bond. James Bond.

MOOS: My name is Macron, Emmanuel Macron. One tweet. OK, it was a winch, not a jet pack. But still, President Macron dressed in a naval uniform and

took part in a missile launch simulation, a periscope, tweeted someone coming soon, president drops in on international space station, snaps

selfie. Macron first established his testosterone-cred by practically arm wrestling President Trump during a handshake.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much.

MOOS: Of course, Russian President Vladimir Putin had his mini-sub photo op long ago. He's been fishing and riding horses bare-chested for years, his

naked torso has become a regular on SNL.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Putin is going to make everything OK.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS: The real Putin has been hand-gliding with cranes, tagging tigers. It's as if world leaders are trying to out macho each other, even if

Canada's prime minister was only joking with his pushup.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Boom.

MOOS: It doesn't hurt to know that he can actually do this.

The Trump handshake is his signature tough guy move, surpassed only by the time he pushed Montenegro's prime minister out of the way, but holding a

golf club isn't nearly as high in testosterone as holding a gun and compared to being airlifted onto a sub at sea, the most macho thing we seen

President Trump for was a truck.

Moos, Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, a few parting shots today. Let's queue on diplomacy, something we have been covering every angle of today from Qatar's crisis to

the G20 summit, which unlike these guys is not always black and white. You might find this bamboozling, two of the world's most powerful leaders of

Germany, China, Bahrain, taking time out of their busy schedules, in Berlin's newest panda garden just before the G20 begins.

Yes, China often gives pandas as diplomatic gifts to other countries. You may call a former political pandering. It's a tiny reminder that policies

comes in all shapes and sizes, and even it seems species.

From a world wide exclusive, to be on every side of Donald Trump's week, we've done it for you this week, it is the Middle East here for the very

best of all of it. As ever, you can check out those on facebook.com/CNNconnect.

The best of today's show and every other is right up there for you. So be sure to like a bear. See you again on Sunday, from the team here in Abu

Dhabi working around the world, it's a very good evening. And I'm Becky Anderson and Quest Express is next.

END