G7 Summit Hiroshima: Seven things to know about the G7

The global economic crisis of 1975 gave Chancellor Helmut Schmidt and French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing the idea of ​​a summit of the largest industrial nations to seek solutions. At the first meeting at Rambouillet Castle near Paris, the heads of state and government from France, Germany, the USA, Great Britain, Japan and Italy came together. A year later, Canada completed the G7 for the next almost 30 years.

Failed enlargement of the G7

Russia received full membership in 2002, but the G8 only existed until 2013. Because of the Russian annexation of Crimea, the summit in Sochi, Russia, on the Black Sea burst in 2014. Since then, the group has been called the G7 again.

The G7 initially included the seven largest industrial nations in the world. Today that is no longer the case: Italy and Canada have been ousted from the top 7 by China and India. However, economic power is no longer considered the most important link between the member states. The shared values ​​of the seven democracies are gaining importance in the face of growing competition from autocracies like China and Russia.

Each year, a few guests are invited to the peaks chosen by the host. This time there are many Asian countries, including India and Indonesia, the most populous next to China. India chairs the larger G20 group, which is convening for its summit in New Delhi in September. Indonesia currently heads the ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian States. Vietnam, South Korea and Australia have also been invited to Hiroshima. The Cook Islands will represent the many small island nations in the Pacific. This time, only the Comoros, who currently chair the African Union of 55 African countries, are present from Africa. Brazil, which will hold the G20 presidency next year, has been invited from South America.

The next meeting will take place in Hiroshima

Initially, the summits were mainly about the economy. That is why the meetings were also called world economic summits. Today we are dealing with global issues of all kinds, this time including the Ukraine war and its consequences and the relationship between the West and China. But climate protection will also be a major topic, as it is every year.

The annual summits of heads of state and government are prepared by meetings of their negotiators and line ministers. Binding resolutions do not come out of the top meeting at the end. In a final document, however, common positions and goals are laid down against which the heads of state and government must be measured. In addition, further papers on special topics are decided upon. Five are planned this year, covering Ukraine, economic security, nuclear disarmament, renewable energy and food security.

The seven member states take turns. Last year it was Germany’s turn, this year it’s Japan, next Italy.