Guest nations at the G-7 reflect outreach to developing countries, worries over China, Russia

TOKYO — This week’s summit of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies in Hiroshima will include eight other guest nations, part of a complicated, high-stakes diplomatic gambit meant to settle the world’s most serious crises. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has invited South Korea, Australia, India, Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Comoros and the Cook Islands.

Kishida hopes this mix of countries will help efforts to stand up to China’s assertiveness and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to analysts. He also wants stronger ties with U.S. allies and with developing nations and to make progress on working toward a nuclear-free world, something that looks increasingly difficult amid North Korean and Russian nuclear threats.

Here’s a look at what to expect:

‘Global South’ nations

Kishida has said his list of guest nations reflects the importance of the so-called “Global South” countries. That’s a term used for developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The G-7 nations account for about 40% of the world’s economic activity, a decrease from an estimated 80% of global gross domestic product in the 1970s.

“When the U.N. adopts resolutions, you see a considerable number of its 190 or so member states are ‘Global South’ countries,” said Choi Eunmi, a Japan expert at South Korea’s Asan Institute Policy Institute.

Indonesia’s importance for Japan, for instance, is linked to its abundant natural resources and economic potential, said Kim, the expert.

India is this year’s president of the G-20, which is seen as a crucial bridge between G-7 economies and the Global South. Japan has traditionally had close ties with India, where Kishida visited in March for a summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

US allies

Japan’s invitation of South Korea reflects the neighbors’ role as staunch U.S. allies with a shared security threat from North Korea’s advancing nuclear arsenal.

In recent weeks, Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol have taken major steps to boost security and economic cooperation and to move beyond historical grievances stemming from Japan’s 1910-45 colonization of the Korean Peninsula.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry’s response to an AP query praised Yoon for an “active diplomacy showing commitment to the peace and prosperity of the region, including announcing the Indo-Pacific strategy.”

Kishida, Yoon and U.S. President Joe Biden are expected to meet on the margins of the G-7 summit to discuss North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, China’s growing influence and the Russian-Ukraine war.

Australia, also a key U.S. ally, has already been closely cooperating with Japan, including on efforts to achieve a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, which called Australia a “special strategic partner.”

Last year, the two countries signed a new security agreement covering military, intelligence and cybersecurity cooperation to counter the deteriorating security outlook driven by China’s increasing assertiveness.

Other issues

Some of the guest nations lead regional and other bodies.

Brazil takes over next year for India as president of the G-20. Indonesia is chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Comoros leads the African Union, and the Cook Islands chairs the Pacific Islands Forum.

Japan is stepping up its security and economic ties with the 18 Pacific Forum countries, partly to counter growing Chinese influence there.

Observers say the invitation of the Cook Islands is an expression of Japanese respect to the Pacific nations, where there’s been worry about the planned release of treated but still radioactive wastewater into the Pacific from Japan’s tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant.