5 Key Takeaways From the G7 Summit

What's the story?

• World leaders met in Hiroshima, Japan, last week for the 2023 G7 Summit, with talks focusing on threats from authoritarian powers, China and Russia.
• Each year, the G7 Summit brings together leaders of France, the U.S., the UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada, and the European Union. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine was also invited to attend. 
• Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida chose Hiroshima as the summit location to highlight G7 leaders' stance against military aggression, nuclear threats, and attempts to disrupt the international order — in light of the crisis in Ukraine and the risk of weapons of mass destruction. 

5 key takeaways

Threats of economic coercion by China

• G7 leaders expressed concern over Beijing's "economic coercion" and the "weaponization of economic vulnerabilities." As a solution, they called for "de-risking" to reduce economic dependence on China. This strategy entails countries supporting one another by increasing trade and funding to bypass potential obstacles imposed by China.

Prioritizing climate crisis in bilateral relations

• President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a joint effort to prioritize climate and clean energy as a central pillar of the U.S.-Australia alliance. This effort includes enhancing cooperation on critical minerals, elevating global climate ambition, and signing a statement of intent for climate partnership through the Australia-U.S. compact.

Reaffirming support for the Indo-Pacific

• At the G7 Quad Leader's Summit, authorities committed to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and opposed unilateral actions that altered the status quo or acquired territory through force. 

 Unity in Ukraine

• G7 leaders backed Ukraine President Zelenskyy's "peace formula." They called on Russia to cease its aggression and entirely withdraw troops from Ukraine's internationally recognized territory.

Ukraine takes priority over talks of nuclear disarmament

• Despite the summit's final communique's mention of a "Hiroshima Vision" for nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation discussions took a backseat to discourse on the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

What do you think of the G7 discussions?

 -Laura Woods

(Photo Credit: G7Hiroshima)