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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Here is what you need to know about the 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 is made up of the world’s largest advanced democracies, and the leaders summit is attended by the head of government of each of the seven nations. The location and the group’s presidency rotate annually among the 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 members are 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, at this year’s event.
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The inaugural G-7 summit was convened southwest of Paris in 1975, although 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, Russia’s membership was suspended. (The G-7 formally rebuked Russia in 2021, on the seventh anniversary of the illegal Crimea annexation.)
In 2020, then-U.S. President Donald Trump advocated for Russia’s return to the group, labeling it “common sense,” but Russia did not rejoin. Trump also mentioned the prospect of inclusion for India, Australia and South Korea. The other member nations rejected his proposals.
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What happened at previous G-7s?
At last year’s G-7, member countries developed plans to support Ukraine in its defense against the Russian invasion that began in February 2022, as well as to make COVID-19 vaccines more globally available. The 2021 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
Economic powers China and India — the world’s most populous countries — are not included in the group, even though 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 and political pressure at home. The Democratic president and Republican 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 with 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
