Japan’s G7 focus will be geopolitics, not economics

THE G7 is most associated with economic policy. However, its role as a geopolitical lynchpin has long been key too, and is assuming paramount importance one year into the Ukraine war.

This was showcased in Japan’s chairing on Friday (Feb 24) of a virtual summit of Western presidents and prime ministers. The club of Japan, the United States, Canada, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy are spearheading the massive international package of sanctions against Moscow; have pledged never to recognise any redrawn boundaries for Ukraine; provided tens of billions of dollars in military and humanitarian assistance; and are currently looking at plans to rebuild Ukraine in what would be a mini-version of the post-war Marshall Plan which saw the US-backed rebuilding of post-war Europe.

This year’s G7 super priority of Ukraine is only the latest example of the prominence of geopolitical and security issues in the Western club’s meetings. In recent years, the body has played a significant orchestration role in the West’s policies towards other geographies, including in Asia.