By Janet Ekstract
ISTANBUL- On the first day of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan on Friday, world leaders being hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, were led on a tour of the Peace Memorial Park, to honor and commemorate the memory of those whose lives were lost when the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on the city in 1945. As the rotating presidency for the G7 Summit in 2023, Japan is focusing its theme for the summit on a “nuclear-free world.” In a news conference prior to the summit, Fumio called on all nations to make “concrete efforts” to achieve the nuclear-free goal. As he commented: “Publicizing nuclear strike realities is key for disarmament.” The Japanese PM highlighted that especially in light of Chinese and Russian aggression that the G7 plans to issue a “solid message” against any effort to change the status quo. As Fumio stated: “The summit, addressing topics ranging from energy and food security to climate change should underscore global collaboration.”
Meanwhile, front and center on the summit agenda will also be the topic of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and proposing further sanctions on Russia. The highlight of the summit on Sunday will be the arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to make his appeal for more military support from G7 nations. Additionally, crucial issues to be discussed include geopolitical, economic and climate issues as well as taking a major focus on regional and international challenges. On Friday, the leaders of the G7 drew up tough new sanctions on Russia that are designed to block loopholes and go after untapped industries to work on preventing Russia from continuing to finance its war on Ukraine.
The 2023 G7 is extraordinary since the leaders of Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Australia, Comoros, Cook Islands and Vietnam were invited to attend as guests. Analysts and experts on the region point out that the overture to South Korea is natural in light of both Seoul and Japan’s thaw in relations, particularly when it comes to China’s growing influence in the Pacific region and its tensions with Taiwan. International security and border threats will be one of the main topics on the agenda at the three-day summit as well as China’s increasing influence worldwide, Russia’s nuclear aggression and authoritarian stance on the global scene as well as North Korea’s ballistic missile threats.
Speaking to the South Korean news program Within The Frame, Associate Professor of International Politics at Hanuku University in Seoul, Mason Richey said the major reason certain nations were invited this year has a lot to do with the idea to “extend an olive branch so they might find China less attractive economically.” Richey added: “Rapprochement taking place between Seoul and Japan” is why Kishida extended an invitation to Seoul. The invited nations, Richey explained are “strategic nations of Japan and South Korea,” and that there’s an urgent need “to push back against Russia and not sell weapons to Russia.”
In addition, this is the first time a South Korean president has attended a memorial to remember the victims of Hiroshima as well as a G7 summit, Richey said. He added that it “will send a message that countries are united on these issues.” Richey highlighted that it’s important for both Seoul and Japan to work together to progress in enhancing their relations. Both share a common interest on North Korean security concerns as well as sharing new technologies. The U.S. will also play a key role at the summit, Richey emphasized, with Japan and Seoul to enhance their knowledge sharing about missile warning information. He said the three countries will share “militarily delicate” information that will continue to be shared through the Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TESAT), created in 2014. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will meet with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in a trilateral meeting to discuss North Korea and China on the sidelines of the summit. As Richey explained, all three countries seek to avoid conflict with both nations, especially China.
In a statement from the G7 on the new Russian sanctions, leaders said their message“reaffirmed” their commitment to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s “illegal, unjustifiable and unprovoked invasion.” The statement further read that the latest sanctions will “increase the costs to Russia and those who are supporting its war effort.” It would “ensure that Russia is no longer able to weaponize the availability of energy.” G7 leaders also reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine on all fronts to provide “the financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support Ukraine requires for as long as it takes.” It’s precisely because of these current conflicts and challenges that the venue of Hiroshima was chosen for the 2023 G7 Summit. It was not only chosen to represent the symbol of a nuclear-free world, also because it’s the Japanese prime minister’s hometown. The prime minister sought to highlight how crucial a nuclear-free world is especially in light of Russia’s withdrawal from the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty as well as its previous veiled threats regarding use of nuclear weapons in its war on Ukraine.
The G7 also invited leaders of the UN, the International Energy Agency, the International Monetary Fund, the Organizations for Economic Cooperation and Development, the World Bank, the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization. The G7 nations France, UK, the EU, Italy, Germany, Canada and the U.S. meet annually with all seven nations taking on the rotating presidency as Japan has this year and Italy will in 2024.
