Solidarity with Ukraine, clear positioning towards China and 19 billion euros for humanitarian crises: unity was demonstrated at the G7 summit. Host Kishida speaks of a “historic summit”.
Finally, the host presents himself once again in front of the impressive and depressing backdrop of this special summit location: Japan’s Premier Fumio Kishida takes stock in front of Hiroshima’s peace monument with its famous dome, which commemorates the atomic bombing in August 1945. A historic summit in the city of peace, he says.
The international community is at an historic turning point as we witness Russia’s violent attempts to unilaterally alter its borders. The Hiroshima Summit took place in a situation where the principles of sovereignty and respect for the inviolability of borders are being questioned.
Solidarity by invitation from Zelenskyj
According to Kishida, the seven leading democracies have demonstrated their unwavering solidarity with Ukraine by inviting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the summit.
He uses his chance: For the first time he speaks personally with the heads of state and government from India, Brazil and Indonesia. You are present as guests in Hiroshima and have not yet condemned the Russian war of aggression. A lively discussion, as it is then said.
Zelenskyy thanks the G7 countries for the fact that his country may get F-16 fighter jets. Anyway, the US government has allowed allies to deliver jets to Kiev. Who does that and when is completely open. Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland have some, Germany doesn’t.
Scholz: pilot training as an embassy to Russia
Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasizes that the first thing to do is to train Ukrainian pilots: “It’s a project that initially contains a message to Russia, which is also related to all our activities, namely that Russia shouldn’t count on it – if if it lasts long enough – eventually support for Ukraine dwindles.”
Agreement with Moscow, clear words to Beijing: The G7 are offering China constructive and stable relations, but they are also demanding that the People’s Republic put pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
Warning to China
The G7 countries warn China against military action against democratic Taiwan and reject its claims to power in the region. The EU has largely asserted its point of view: the West does not want to decouple itself from the important trading partner China, but reduce the dangers of excessive dependence – for example through new partnerships to extract raw materials in Africa, Asia and South America.
We want not only the extraction of the raw materials to take place locally in these countries, but also that development opportunities take place there through the first processing stage. I think that’s a great step forward and a contribution to equality in the world.
19 billion for humanitarian crises
The fight against hunger in the world and against climate change fades into the background at the summit. The G7 promise around 19 billion euros in aid for humanitarian crises for the current year. According to development organizations, this is far too little.