G7 FOREIGN MINSTER'S MEETING 2021
Recently, Foreign Ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) countries (USA, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan) held a meeting in London, UK. The 47th G7 Summit will be held in June 2021. The UK is the host country.
ABOUT THE G7 FOREIGN MINISTER MEETING
Invited Guests: Australia, India, South Korea, South Africa and the Chair (Brunei Darussalam) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Australia, India, South Korea and South Africa will also join the G7 Summit in June.
Discussions: Russia’s Irresponsible and Destabilising Behaviour: This includes the large build-up of Russian military forces on Ukraine’s borders and in illegally-annexed Crimea.
Related to China: Human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang and in Tibet, especially the targeting of Uyghurs, members of other ethnic and religious minority groups. Called on China to respect Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy and rights and freedoms (Basic Law). Condemned the military coup in Myanmar.
Indo-Pacific: Support for the centrality of ASEAN on the Indo-Pacific. Reiterated the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific which is inclusive and based on the rule of law, democratic values, territorial integrity, transparency, the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
International Rules-based Order: This can be described as a shared commitment by all countries to conduct their activities in accordance with agreed rules that evolve over time, such as international law, regional security arrangements, trade agreements, immigration protocols, and cultural arrangements.
GROUP OF SEVEN (G-7)
The Group of Seven (G-7) is an informal bloc of industrialized democracies—France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States, and Canada—that meets annually to discuss issues of common interest like global economic governance, international security and energy policy.
History: The G-7 has its roots in an informal meeting of the finance ministers of France, West Germany, the U.S, Great Britain, and Japan (the Group of Five) in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis. The French President invited the leaders of West Germany, U.S, Great Britain, Japan and Italy, to Rambouillet (France) in 1975 for further discussions on global oil crisis.
Membership: France, West Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States formed the Group of Six in 1975 to provide a venue for the industrialized democracies to address pressing economic concerns. In 1976, Canada was also invited to join the group and the first meeting with all G-7 nations was hosted by the United States which was held in Puerto Rico in 1976. The European Union has participated fully in the G-7 since 1981 as a "non enumerated" member. It is represented by the presidents of the European Council, which represents the EU member states' leaders, and the European Commission (the E.U.’s executive branch). The G-7 was known as the G-8 for several years after the original seven were joined by Russia in 1997. The inclusion of USSR in G-7 was meant as a signal of cooperation between East and West after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. The group returned to being called G-7 after Russia was expelled as a member in 2014 following the annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine. There are no formal criteria for membership, but participants are all highly developed democracies. The aggregate GDP of G-7 member states makes up nearly 50% of the global economy and 10% of the world’s population.
Summit Participation: Summits are held annually and hosted on a rotation basis by the group's members. The host country not only holds the G7 presidency but also sets the agenda for the year. Invitation to Global leaders are sent by host nation to participate in summit as special invitees. Countries like China, India, Mexico, and Brazil have attended summit at various occasions. The leaders of important international organizations like European Union, IMF, World Bank and the United Nations are also invited.
INDIA & G7 RELATIONSHIP
Previous Participation: The participation of India at the 45th summit in Biarritz, France, in August 2019 is a reflection of deepening strategic partnership and recognition of India as a major economic power. India was also invited for the 2020 summit hosted by the USA which could not take place due to the pandemic. Previously India had attended the G8 summit (it became G7 from G8 with the expulsion of Russia in 2014) five times between 2005 and 2009.
SIGNIFICANCE OF INDIA'S ENGAGEMENT WITH G7
It provides an opportunity for India to develop cordial relations with developed countries.
It will boost security cooperation with member countries in Indo-Pacific, particularly the Indian ocean. As current president of Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) and G20 president in 2023, India will play a key role driving in multilateral cooperation helping to build back better around the world.
TEST YOURSELF
Q.1 Recently, Foreign Ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) countries (USA, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan) held a meeting known as the G7 Foreign Minster's meeting?
- Ontario, Canada
- London, United Kingdom: ANSWER
- Biarritz, France
- Hamburg, Germany
Q.2 Which of the following given statements is/are incorrect in the reference to the recently held G7 Foreign Minster's meeting?
- Russia’s Irresponsible and Destabilising Behaviour which includes the large build-up of Russian military forces on Ukraine’s borders and in illegally-annexed Crimea is the main centre of Discussion.
- Invited guests in the Summit includes Australia, India, South Korea, South Africa and the Chair (Brunei Darussalam) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
- Only I follows
- Only II follows
- Both I & II follows
- None of the above: ANSWER
Q.3 Which of the following countries/nations are not included in the membership of the Group of Seven (G-7)?
- Japan, China, Germany: ANSWER
- USA, UK, Canada
- France, Germany, Italy
- None of the above
Q.4 Which of the following given organisations has participated fully in the Group of Seven (G-7) since 1981 as a "non enumerated" member?
- Collective Security Treaty Organization
- European Union: ANSWER
- North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
- None of the above
Q.5 Consider the following statements & state which of the following is/are correct in the context of the Group of Seven (G-7)?
- The Group of 7 (G7) is an informal group of seven countries, the Heads of State and Government of which meet at an annual summit.
- The G7 was created on Germany’s initiative during the crisis following the first oil crisis.
- G7 is now a forum for concertation where common responses are found for major global challenges including peace and security, counter-terrorism, development, education, health, the environment and climate change.
- I & II follows
- Only III follows
- I & III follows: ANSWER
- All of the above
