By Weston Blasi
Summit attended by heads of government from the Group of Seven nations formally kicks off Friday in Japan
Heads of government from the Group of Seven nations kick off an annual summit on Friday, with plans to discuss global issues -- headlined, reportedly, by the war in Ukraine -- as well as the situations, economic and otherwise, in their own countries.
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Following is what you need to know about this G-7 meeting.
When is the G-7 summit?
This year's G-7 summit begins on Friday, May 19, and is being held in Hiroshima, Japan.
What is the G-7?
The G-7 compromises the world's largest advanced democracies, and the leaders summit is attended by each of the seven nations' head of government. The location, and the group's presidency, rotates annually among the seven member countries. This year is Japan's turn to host.
During the multiday meeting, leaders aim to set a course toward solutions to complex global issues with a particular focus on trade, economics, energy and security.
Which countries are in the G-7?
The group's membership comprises the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom. The European Union is considered a "nonenumerated" member and does not directly participate in the rotation of the G-7 presidency.
Japan's Fumio Kishida, Italy's Giorgia Meloni, Canada's Justin Trudeau, France's Emmanuel Macron, the U.K.'s Rishi Sunak, Germany's Olaf Scholz and the U.S.'s Joe Biden will be joined by the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, among this year's attendees.
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The inaugural G-7 summit was convened in 1975, southwest of Paris, though that summit, like the then-nascent organization, was identified as a G-6 gathering. Canada joined the group in 1976.
From 1998 to 2014, Russia participated in annual summits. During those years the organization was known as the G-8. When Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, the country's membership was suspended. (The G-7 formally rebuked Russia on the seventh anniversary in 2021 of the illegal Crimea annexation.)
Russia has never rejoined the group, though in 2020 then-U.S. President Donald Trump advocated for Russia's return to the group, labeling it "common sense." Trump also mentioned the prospect of inclusion for India, Australia and South Korea. The other member nations rejected his proposals.
From the archives (March 2014):Putin: Russians are 'always being cornered'
What happened at previous G-7s?
Countries at last year's G-7 developed plans to support Ukraine in its defense against the latest Russian invasion, which began in February 2022, as well as to make COVID-19 vaccines more globally available. 2021's summit centered on a global minimum corporate-tax rate of 15%.
From the archives (April 2022):Russia gets invitation to G-20 gathering in Bali this fall, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine notwithstanding
Also see (June 2018):Trump lashes out at Canada, France over trade -- and will bail on G-7 summit early
Some have wondered why such economic powers as China and India -- the world's most populous countries -- are not included in the group, considering that the share of the global economy represented by G-7 nations has dropped since the early 2000s.
What topics will be discussed at this year's G-7 summit?
According to the G-7 website for the Hiroshima gathering, topics this year will include Russia's continued aggression against Ukraine, nuclear weapons, economic security, climate and energy, food security, and global health architecture.
Biden will be attending this year's G-7 while under economic pressure at home. The president and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, joined by other congressional leaders, are locked in debt-ceiling negotiations, with reports on Thursday indicating some progress toward a deal but Friday morning bringing news of a reported "pause" in talks
Biden has said of this year's G-7 summit: "When our countries stand together, we stand stronger, and I believe the whole world is safer when we do."
From the archives (March 2023): Tucker Carlson questionnaire reveals a fault line among Republicans: U.S. support for Ukraine's defense against Russian invasion
Also (June 2021): On Biden agenda for 8-day Europe trip: reassure allies, confront Putin, counter China, boost democracy
-Weston Blasi
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05-19-23 1504ET
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