The most important is not always written in black and white. The G7 summit in Hiroshima illustrates this well.
Yes, the leaders will discuss the war in Ukraine. They will look into the reduction of atomic armament. They will also discuss the problems generated by artificial intelligence. But the main objective of this G7 is to strengthen the alliances between the democracies, in particular to fight against the growing influence of China.
This objective is particularly visible in the list of 16 countries and international organizations invited to observe the discussions. Among them are Australia, Brazil, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, the WTO and the IMF, among others. On the other hand, South Africa, almost always invited, is absent, because too close to Beijing and Moscow.
Why discuss denuclearization in Hiroshima?
The Japanese government maintains in world opinion the idea that the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were inhumane and unnecessary. In reality, Japan at the time was developing its own nuclear bombs, and the Japanese military hoped to use them against the Americans. However, Japanese generals harbored illusions about the progress of Japan’s nuclear program. They would have been convinced of the superiority of the United States only with the explosion of the second bomb, a hydrogen bomb, more advanced than the first. Still, the extraordinary nature of the atomic bombs enabled Japan’s leaders to save face and accept defeat. Since then, a strong anti-nuclear movement has flourished in Japan. Holding a G7 in Hiroshima and discussing denuclearization there can satisfy a large part of the Japanese electorate, even if this denuclearization will not happen.
- Listen to the chronicle of Loïc Tassé, specialist in international politics at the microphone of Benoît Dutrizac via QUB-radio :
What to expect from artificial intelligence?
As usual in this kind of files, the leaders of the G7 will try to mark out the problem. But it seems like no one is quite sure what to do or quite understands the extent of the artificial intelligence revolution that is brewing. The 20e century was the century of technology, the 21ste will probably be that of artificial intelligence.
What to expect about the war in Ukraine?
We should not expect any significant progress on Ukraine, even if Volodymyr Zelensky will go to the G7 in person. The reason is that the United States and France are slowing the shipment of more sophisticated weaponry to Ukraine for fear of an escalation, while countries like the United Kingdom are pushing the sale of advanced weaponry to Ukrainians.
- Listen to the chronicle of Loïc Tassé, specialist in international politics at the microphone of Benoît Dutrizac via QUB-radio :
Should China be worried?
The G7 countries are courting several powers that are betting on non-alignment. The authoritarian temptation threatens several of them, starting with India. In fact, Xi Jinping, with his reckless and aggressive policies, is himself his own worst enemy.
What is Canada doing at the G7?
The issues of the G7 are outside the old rose water and so-called feminist international policies of the government of Justin Trudeau. His government has swung into the active promotion of Canada’s Asia-Pacific strategy. This strategy has been successful so far, as evidenced by the warm reception Trudeau has received in South Korea. Canada’s natural resources enable it to play an important role in the region, among other things by offering Indo-Pacific countries access to its natural wealth. However, many of these countries, such as South Korea and Japan, are dominated by industry groups to which Canadian companies are dwarfs. Great caution is in order.