What is the G7?

Its purpose, history, and challenges.

June 23, 2025

In This Issue

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Main Story
What is the G7?

Here’s the latest on the 2025 G7 Summit in Canada:

  • Trump did not meet with Ukraine president: This is an interesting lack of action, considering the president’s commitment to work with Ukraine and Russia to end the war.

  • Trump floated Russia (and potentially China) rejoining the G7, describing Russia’s 2014 expulsion as a “mistake”—though other leaders like Germany’s Merz pushed for continued pressure on Putin.

  • The G7 did not release a joint communiqué, demonstrating possible policy division and misalignment of nations.

🧭 G7 Summit: Plain‑English Breakdown

📜 History & Formation

  • Began in 1973 as the informal “Library Group” of finance ministers during the oil crisis in Washington D.C.; expanded to a leaders’ summit in 1975 (then G6, became G7 with Canada’s addition).

  • Russia joined in 1997 (G8), but was expelled in 2014 following the annexation of Crimea; the group reverted to G7.

  • The 7 member countries are: France, the US, the UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada.

🎯 Purpose & Functions

  • An informal, annual forum (no treaty or permanent secretariat), rotating presidency sets agendas.

  • Aims to coordinate on global economic governance, international security, and transnational issues (e.g. climate, health, AI, migration).

  • Invites non-members (e.g. India, South Korea, EU, international bodies) to join specific discussions

🌍 Importance

  • Represents seven major democracies plus the EU, accounting for ~10% of global population and about half of world wealth and GDP 

  • Known for setting the stage for major global initiatives—HIV/AIDS, climate (Paris Agreement), debt relief, financial stability.

  • Criticized for its limited global representation and effectiveness amid rising powers like the G20 and BRICS

  • Current challenges include internal unity (e.g., U.S.–EU divides), handling global crises (Ukraine, Middle East, China), and adapting to a changing geopolitical order.

🧠 Learn More

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Game of the Week
G7 Trivia

  1. What year did the G7 originally start, and under what name?
    a) 1973, Library Group
    b) 1980, Economic Roundtable
    c) 1992, Global Governance Forum

  2. Which leader floated re-admitting Russia (and potentially China) into the group at the 2025 summit?
    a) Olaf Scholz
    b) Donald Trump
    c) Justin Trudeau

  3. Name three non-member topics the G7 issued joint statements on at the 2025 summit.
    a) AI, wildfires, and migrant smuggling
    b) Climate change, nuclear disarmament, and Bitcoin
    c) Pandemic response, tourism, and internet censorship

Answers: a, b, a

That’s all for now. See you on Thursday. 😊 

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