Joe Biden arrives in Japan for G7 summit

The upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima, Japan will focus on a range of issues including Russia’s war on Ukraine, nuclear disarmament, artificial intelligence, climate change, and economic security. US President Joe Biden is expected to lead discussions on increasing pressure on Moscow to end the conflict in Ukraine and to push back against China’s growing power and influence. The G7 countries, which include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the US, are set to announce new sanctions against Russia and measures to tackle economic coercion by China. The summit will also address nuclear disarmament, climate change, economic security and cooperation with developing countries. However, there are divisions among countries about how far punitive measures should go. Japan and European countries are seen as reluctant to slash trade with Russia and China to the extent favoured by the US. Biden is attending the summit after cancelling visits to Papua New Guinea and Australia to attend negotiations with Congress about raising the US government’s debt ceiling.