Six key takeaways from the G7 Hiroshima Summit
By Megumi Takayama and Masayuki Emoto
The annual G7 (Group of Seven) Summit, hosted by chair nation Japan, took place in Hiroshima on May 19–21, 2023. As the site of the world’s first nuclear weapon attack, Hiroshima added significant weight to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s message of nuclear disarmament and the surprise appearance by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Among the wide range of topics discussed, six key topics stood out:
1. Nuclear disarmament: Pursuit of a world without nuclear weapons
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is dedicated to achieving a world without nuclear weapons. In August 2022, he unveiled a five-point action plan, known as the “Hiroshima Action Plan,” at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference emphasizing the importance of international leaders visiting atomic bomb sites. The opening of the three-day summit included G7 leaders visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and offered flowers to the Memorial Cenotaph.
Against the backdrop of Russia’s nuclear intimidation in its invasion of Ukraine, the summit placed a renewed focus on nuclear disarmament. The “Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament” reaffirmed G7 nations’ commitment to non-proliferation. Prime Minister Kishida emphasized after the summit that addressing security challenges and striving for a world without nuclear weapons are not contradictory. Public opinion in Japan is divided between supporters of the non-proliferation ideal and those who believe nuclear weapons promote deterrence. Criticism has been raised that deterrence efforts undermine nuclear disarmament aims.
2. Ukraine: International order based on the rule of law
The surprise visit of Ukrainian President Zelensky at the Summit added significance to the event. He secured new military assistance commitments, with the United States offering increased military aid, including F-16 fighter jets, and Japan providing vehicles and emergency food supplies. These commitments underscored the international community’s solidarity with Ukraine. Prime Minister Kishida is reportedly planning to attend the NATO Summit held in Lithuania in July, signaling an increasing closeness between Japan and NATO.
President Zelensky also held bilateral talks with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose government maintains neutrality in the conflict. India is the 2023 chair of the G20 and a particular target of Zelensky in securing global support for Ukraine’s peace formula.
3. Economic security, supply chains and economic coercion
Economic security was a critical topic of the Summit, particularly in the wake of the global pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war — events that have revealed global supply chain vulnerabilities. The G7 leaders agreed to enhance resilient supply chains of essential goods such as critical minerals, clean energy technologies and semiconductors.
The G7 leaders also established a new framework called the “Coordination Platform Against Economic Coercion” to counter economic coercion, including exerting pressure through restrictive trade and investment actions. This platform aims to support countries affected by such coercion by enhancing collaboration among the G7 members.
4. Generative AI
In response to recent AI developments like ChatGPT, G7 leaders established a framework called the “Hiroshima AI Process” to facilitate ongoing discussions on AI development and utilization, including copyright protection, combating disinformation and working in cooperation with The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Ultimately, the framework process aims to formulate a unified stance among the G7 countries on AI policy by the end of this year.
5. China: Shift from decoupling to de-risking
The G7 leaders’ communiqué included a shift in direction in policy towards China, emphasizing a “de-risking” rather than “decoupling” approach. De-risking, as advocated by EU Commission President von der Leyen, involves imposing restrictions on sectors that require risk management while maintaining stable relationships in other sectors.
The communiqué highlighted continued concerns about China’s assertive maritime actions and the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. China strongly protested the document, claiming that G7 countries are attempting encirclement.
6. Climate change, global health and gender
To address climate change, the G7 leaders agreed for the first time to phase out the use of all fossil fuels, including natural gas. However, the leaders did not agree on hard deadlines and there was limited progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Some view the allowance of investment in natural gas investment as a loophole, making it difficult to demonstrate the G7’s leadership on the issue.
In global health, the G7 leaders agreed to launch a partnership aimed at ensuring equitable access to and delivery of medical countermeasures, particularly in developing countries.
To promote gender equality, the G7 leaders pledged to make further efforts and condemned violence against sexual minorities, including women and LGBT individuals. These issues are to be addressed at the G7 Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Ministers’ Meeting scheduled in late June.
Evaluation of the G7 Summit
The G7 Hiroshima Summit is widely regarded as a success in Japan. According to the latest surveys, Prime Minister Kishida’s approval ratings increased by around 9 points, resulting from the Prime Minister’s diplomatic accomplishments at the Summit. Against this backdrop, some within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have expressed a desire for an early dissolution of the House of Representatives and an early general election to increase its vote share.
Want to work with us? Reach out to Megumi Takayama at MTakayama@webershandwick.com
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