President Joe Biden speaks in the East Room of the White House just hours before he left for his trip to Japan.
CNN —
President Joe Biden arrived in Japan on Thursday for a truncated Asia visit meant to bolster allies amid China’s growing military and economic ambitions.
The trip, once planned for eight days, has been shortened by half; two of Biden’s three stops were scrapped so he could return to Washington for negotiations over raising the US debt ceiling.
Left with only a stop in Japan for the Group of Seven summit, Biden is attempting to coalesce the leaders of some of the world’s largest economies around a commitment to take on Beijing’s aggressions and support Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion.
The world leaders will also convene a discussion about artificial intelligence, a signal that rapid advancements in the technology have been cause for concern.
Yet it is the concern over the possibility of US default that is providing the most urgent threat to global stability, and leaders were expected to quiz Biden on the risks when they begin meetings Friday.
The US president first met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the eve of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, emphasizing close US-Japan relations amid China’s growing military and economic ambitions, as well as Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
“The bottom line, Mr. Prime Minister, is that when our countries stand together, we stand stronger. And I believe the whole world is safer when we do,” Biden told his host.
As he sat across from Kishida at the start of a bilateral meeting with top aides, Biden quoted Kishida’s comments earlier this year during a trip to the White House that the two nations face one of the most complex security environments in recent history.
“I couldn’t agree with you more – and I’m proud that the United States and Japan are facing it together. And, you know, we stand up for the shared values, including supporting the brave people in Ukraine as they defend their sovereign territory and holding Russia accountable for this brutal aggression,” Biden said, flanked by national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“We’re tracking the global challenges from strengthening our community and our commitment to nuclear nonproliferation to ensuring the free and open Indo-Pacific that’s at the heart of all this,” he went on.
Biden pointed to deepening cooperation between the US and Japan on emerging technologies, including new partnerships on quantum computing and semiconductors.
He thanked Kishida for hosting and noted he looked forward to the summit ahead. The leaders did not take questions from reporters.
An eye toward China
President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on Sunday, May 21. Zelensky thanked Biden Sunday for the "powerful" financial assistance provided by the US, which totals $37 billion, according to a readout from the Ukrainian president's office.
Protesters confront riot police during a march against the G7 meeting on Sunday in Hiroshima.
Zelensky joins G7 world leaders at a working session on the final day of the G7 Summit.
French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden share a laugh while taking a group picture at the Grand Prince Hotel in Hiroshima during the G7 Summit on Saturday, May 20, in Japan.
Biden takes part in a Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment event during the G7 on Saturday.
Biden steps off Marine One in Miyajima Island in Japan on May 19.
Michel, Meloni, Trudeau, Macron, Kishida, Biden, Scholz, and von der Leyen lay down wreaths during a ceremony at Peace Park in Hiroshima on May 19.
Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida welcome Biden and first lady Jill to the G7 summit in Hiroshima on May 19.
People hold signs and chant slogans during the march to protest against G7 Summit in Hiroshima on Thursday, May 18.
Biden holds a bilateral meeting with Kishida in Hiroshima on May 18, ahead of the start of the G-7 Summit.
Biden and Kishida laugh together in Hiroshima on May 18.
Biden takes a selfie with troops at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan on May 18.
Biden greets US soldiers at the US Marine Corps base in Iwakuni, Japan, on May 18.
Biden steps off Air Force One at the US Marine Corps base in Iwakuni, Japan, on May 18.
Police officers stand guard on a street near Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan, on Wednesday, May 17.
Biden boards Air Force One during after a stop for refueling at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, on May 17.
In pictures: President Joe Biden visits Japan
Japan is the sole Asian member of the G7, meaning the summit only occurs on the continent every seven years. That has helped lend a sense of urgency to the leaders’ discussions on China, which recently sailed warships close to Japan in the leadup to the meetings.
Biden’s aides have insisted there won’t be any “arm twisting” around the G7 table when it comes to China, and have acknowledged that each of the countries represented – including France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and the United States – will decide on its own approach.
At the same time, the US president places a premium on collective action, and wants a unified front when it comes to issues like Taiwan, the South China Sea and Beijing’s coercive economic practices.
“I think you will see, coming out of this summit, alignment and convergence around the fundamental principles of our approach to the People’s Republic of China,” US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force One as Biden flew to Japan. “Of course, each country has its own distinct relationship and its own distinct approach, but those relationships and approaches are built on a common basis. And I think you will see that reflected in the outcomes of the G7.”
Over the course of his four days here, Biden plans to attend a number of group and individual meetings with G7 allies, as well as with several leaders not in the G7 who have been invited this year as guests.
There were plans being laid to convene leaders of the Quad alliance, which consists of the United States, Japan, Australia and India, after a planned summit of the group was canceled when Biden scrapped his stop in Sydney.
He’ll hold a news conference Sunday before returning to Washington.
Planning for Ukraine counteroffensive
No other global alliance has been as important in maintaining western unity following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine than the G7. The bloc has been reinvigorated as leaders coordinate sanctions and billions of dollars in military assistance.
That will continue this week when the G7 unveils new sanctions meant to close loopholes that have allowed Russian entities to evade the restrictions already in place. They are expected to hear virtually from Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky, who will undoubtedly issue a call for more advanced weapons.
Leaders are also expected to discuss the situation on the ground, where Ukrainian forces are preparing for a counteroffensive with the help of billions of dollars in new western military aid.
The hope, according to US officials, is that Ukraine can gain enough territory to provide Zelensky with leverage in eventual peace talks. But where and how those talks occur remains an open question; in the meantime, fears among European allies are strong that the war could turn into a grinding stalemate.
Recent military buildup by Japan
Japan has adopted a more robust foreign policy amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s growing military assertiveness, a development welcomed inside the White House.
In December, Kishida unveiled a new national security plan that amounted to the country’s biggest military buildup since World War II, doubling defense spending and veering from its pacifist constitution in the face of growing threats from regional rivals, including China.
The decision marked a dramatic shift for both the nation and the US security alliance in the Indo-Pacific region.
When Kishida made a secret trip to Kyiv in March, he became the first post-World War II leader to visit a war zone – further cementing the notion that Japan’s foreign policy was entering a new era.
He’s also selected the symbolic city of Hiroshima, where he has family roots, to host world leaders. Destroyed by an American atomic bomb in 1945, the city acts as a reminder to the gathered leaders of the importance of their diplomatic efforts. More than 100,000 people were killed in the bombing.
Biden is the second US president to visit Hiroshima. President Barack Obama paid a historic visit here in 2016, laying a wreath in a memorial park and meeting with some survivors.
The bombing of Hiroshima hastened an end to World War II but launched a new era of atomic brinksmanship. This week’s gathering comes at a moment of heightened nuclear fears, with threats emanating from North Korea, Iran and Russia – each without a clear solution.
FAQs
What is G7 Summit Japan? ›
The G7 Summit in Hiroshima showed that the G7 are more united than ever: united on Ukraine, united on China, united on economic security, united on building the clean energy economies of the future, united on nuclear disarmament, and united on fighting poverty and responding to global challenges like the climate crisis ...
What are G7 countries? ›The G7 is an informal grouping of seven of the world's advanced economies, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the European Union.
Who are the G7 in Japan? ›The G7 Summit is an international forum held annually for the leaders of the G7 member states of France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada (in order of rotating presidency), and the European Union (EU).
Which leaders are at the G7 Summit? ›| Person | Office | In Office Since |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Biden | President of the United States | 20 January 2021 |
| Fumio Kishida | Prime Minister of Japan | 4 October 2021 |
| Olaf Scholz | Chancellor of Germany | 8 December 2021 |
| Giorgia Meloni | Prime Minister of Italy | 22 October 2022 |
The 49th G7 summit was held from 19 to 21 May 2023 in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.
What is difference between G7 and G8 countries? ›The Group of Eight (G8) was an inter-governmental political forum from 1997 until 2014. It had formed from incorporating Russia into the Group of Seven, or G7, and returned to its previous name after Russia was expelled in 2014.
Which countries are invited to the G7 summit 2023? ›India was one of the invitees to the G7 summit, along with Australia, the Cook Islands, Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia and others. The invitation was extended during the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister to India in March 2023.
Is Russia a member of the G7? ›The G7 is an informal grouping of advanced democracies that meets annually to coordinate global economic policy and address other transnational issues. Russia's membership was suspended in 2014 over the annexation of Crimea.
Which country is the G8? ›The G8, the Group of 8 is made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the USA and the UK. The European Union is represented by the President of the European Commission, and the President of the European Council.
Where is G7 in Japan? ›Main results. The G7 summit hosted by this year's Japanese G7 presidency took place in Hiroshima City, Japan.
What does the G in G7 stand for? ›
The U.S. Department of the Treasury engages with the Group of 7 (G7) and Group of 20 (G20) on a variety of international economic development and security issues.
Where is the next G7 meeting? ›Represented jointly by the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission, the EU participates in all discussions as a guest. In 2023, as the G7 Presidency, Japan will host the Summit in Hiroshima.
Who is the US representative to the G7? ›ICYMI: Houlahan Remembers Sadako Sasaki Ahead of G7 Summit in Hiroshima | U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan.
Does the G7 have a president? ›1st G6 summit:
The G7 is not based on a treaty and has no permanent secretariat or office. It is organized through a presidency that rotates annually among the member states, with the presiding state setting the group's priorities and hosting and organizing its summit; Japan currently presides for 2023.
The Group of Seven is an informal group of leading industrialized nations. It consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. This year is Japan's turn to host, but the presidency of G7 summits revolves among the seven members.
Which country will be the G20 summit in 2023? ›G20's Third ECSWG Meeting to be held in Mumbai from May 21-23, 2023.
How old is a G7? ›Moto G7 (stylized by Motorola as moto g7) is a series of Android smartphones developed by Motorola Mobility, a subsidiary of Lenovo. It is the seventh generation of the Moto G family and was first released on 7 February 2019.
Who are in G20 countries? ›The Group of Twenty (G20) comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom and United States) and the European Union.
Does the G8 include China? ›The Group of Eight + Five (G8+5) was an international group that consisted of the leaders of the heads of government from the G8 nations (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States), plus the heads of government of the five leading emerging economies (Brazil, China, India, ...
Why is EU not in G7? ›The European Union is a unique supranational organisation – rather than a sovereign Member State – hence the name G7 “Group of Seven”. The EU is therefore a “non-enumerated” member and does not assume the rotating G7 presidency. The summit gathers leaders from the European Union and the following countries: Canada.
When did Russia join G7? ›
From Rambouillet to Brussels The history of the G7
They were joined in 1976 by Canada and in 1998 by Russia. Following the Russian annexation of Crimea, the G7 nations decided in March 2014 to meet without Russia until further notice.
| 45th G7 summit | |
|---|---|
| Host country | France |
| Date | 24–26 August 2019 |
| Venue(s) | Biarritz, Nouvelle-Aquitaine |
| Participants | Canada France Germany Italy Japan United Kingdom United States European Union |
| 48th G7 summit | |
|---|---|
| Host country | Germany |
| Date | 26–28 June 2022 |
| Venue(s) | Schloss Elmau, Krün, Bavarian Alps |
| Participants | Canada France Germany Italy Japan United Kingdom United States European Union Invited guests Argentina India Indonesia Senegal South Africa Ukraine |
During the 1970s, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and Italy formed the Group of Six (G6) as an informal grouping of advanced industrialized economies that would meet annually to discuss matters of political and economic significance. Canada was added in 1976 to form the Group of 7 (G7).
Is Australia a part of the G7? ›The G7 brings together the world's largest advanced-economy liberal democracies, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Is India a member of the G8? ›The influential G-8 comprises U.S., Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia, while the five Outreach Countries are, besides India, Brazil, China, Mexico and South Africa.
What is the purpose of the G8? ›What does the G8 do? The G8 is a forum that provides the opportunity for its members to co-operate in addressing global challenges. The standards it sets, commitments it makes and steps it takes aim to drive prosperity and economic growth all over the world.
Is the US in the G8? ›Who is part of the G8? Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The European Union also participates as a permanent non-hosting member.
What is G11 countries? ›The G11 member countries are Croatia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Georgia, Honduras, Indonesia, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay, and Sri Lanka.
How many countries are there in the world? ›Countries in the World:
There are 195 countries in the world today. This total comprises 193 countries that are member states of the United Nations and 2 countries that are non-member observer states: the Holy See and the State of Palestine.
Who are the members of the G8 summit? ›
The G8 is an unofficial annual forum for the leaders of Canada, the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
What is the G8 summit? ›Q: What is the G8 Summit? The Group of Eight (G8) Summit is an annual meeting attended by the leaders of the eight countries, namely, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the President of the European Commission.
Who is Japan's president? ›Fumio Kishida is the current prime minister of Japan, replacing Yoshihide Suga on 4 October 2021. As of 24 May 2023, there have been 64 individual prime ministers serving 101 terms of office.
What is the difference between the G7 and the G20? ›The G7 represents countries with a combined GDP of around $40 trillion, while the G20 represents countries with a combined GDP of around $85 trillion. This means that the G20 is a more representative group of the world's economies, as it includes many emerging economies such as China, India, and Brazil.
Why is it G7 instead of G8? ›G7 stands for “Group of Seven” industrialized nations. It used to be known as the G8 (Group of Eight) until 2014 when Russia was excluded because of its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
When did G7 become G20? ›The G20 was foreshadowed at the Cologne summit of the G7 in June 1999, and formally established at the G7 Finance Ministers' meeting on 26 September 1999 with an inaugural meeting on 15–16 December 1999 in Berlin.
What is the motto of the G7? ›“Progress towards an equitable world” – The slogan chosen by the German government for its Presidency of the Group of 7 ( G7Group of 7, seven major industrial countries ) this year clearly indicates the route it has mapped out.
When was G7 founded? › Who has the strongest economy in the G7? ›| COUNTRY | GDP | GDP PER CAPITA |
|---|---|---|
| United StatesUnited States | $15.68 trillion | $45,759.46 per capita |
| JapanJapan | $5.96 trillion | $33,523.37 per capita |
| GermanyGermany | $3.40 trillion | $34,065.12 per capita |
| FranceFrance | $2.61 trillion | $31,161.17 per capita |
G7 is a bloc of industrialized democracies Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. India is not a member of the G7 group.
What does the G8 summit do? ›
What does the G8 do? The G8 is a forum that provides the opportunity for its members to co-operate in addressing global challenges. The standards it sets, commitments it makes and steps it takes aim to drive prosperity and economic growth all over the world.
What does G8 summit stand for? ›Q: What is the G8 Summit? The Group of Eight (G8) Summit is an annual meeting attended by the leaders of the eight countries, namely, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the President of the European Commission.
When was the G7 summit 2023? › Was China invited to G7? ›The G8+5 was unofficially formed when China, India, Brazil, and Mexico were invited to this summit for the first time (the other member of the +5 was South Africa).
Why does G7 matter? ›The Group of Seven (G7) serves as a forum to coordinate global policy, but experts are increasingly questioning the group's relevance. The G7 is an informal grouping of advanced democracies that meets annually to coordinate global economic policy and address other transnational issues.
How important is the G7 summit? ›The importance of the G7 Summits have since grown further, as the leaders have come to discuss not only global economic issues but also regional affairs and global issues in response to international situations of the moment.
Why is Canada in the G8? ›It is in the interest of Canadians that Canada participates in international discussions with its key partners. G8 membership enables Canada to pursue its broad foreign and economic policy agenda and interests, and to help shape global developments on a range of issues, including responses to global crises.
What does G7 mean in the army? ›G7 - Assistant Chief of Staff.
What is the G7 statement for April 2023? ›We are committed to maintaining and strengthening disarmament and non-proliferation efforts for a more secure, stable, and safer world and endorse the Statement of the G7 Non-Proliferation Directors' Group of April 17, 2023.