Ishiba Debuts on G7 Summit

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba finished his schedule for his debut at G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada. The international relations were too complicated for Ishiba to work for enhancing unification of those seven developed countries. It was rather bilateral diplomacy in which Ishiba appealed his personality to Japanese people. On his way to come back to Japan, Ishiba considers campaign strategy for the Upper House election, as he escapes from non-confidence resolution from the opposition party. 

The first G7 Summit for Ishiba was held in a severe international security environment. Not only the Ukraine war and Israel’s offense on Gaza was continuing, Israel and Iran were exchanging military strikes each other, beginning from Israel’s attacks on nuclear facilities in Iran. While European countries had concerns about Russian advance to Eastern Europe, the United States were involved in close consultation with Israel over Iranian missile strikes on Israel. The U.S. President Donald Trump returned to Washington leaving some leaders’ meetings behind.

 

For the first time since Russia left the group in 2014, G7 leaders failed in delivering a joint declaration. Although the leaders hoped to send a strong message against Russia, the U.S. made attempt to dilute the declaration to maintain its position as the broker. “G7 leaders are resolute in exploring all options to maximize pressure on Russia, including financial sanctions,” said Mark Carney in his Chair’s Summery, noting discussion with Ukraine and NATO over budgetary defense and recovery and reconstruction support.

 

Ishiba tried to share security concerns in Asia-Pacific region with other leaders, expressing “serious concern over the advancement of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including deployment of North Korea’s troops to Russia.” As Ishiba brought voices of Asian countries, to which Ishiba made visits after he had taken office last year, the G7 leaders reaffirmed to work together in addressing issues related to China.

 

While Ishiba had bilateral meeting with leaders of the Western countries, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, his first in-person meeting with the President of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung, was paid broad attention. Ishiba and Lee shared necessity to promote close communication between their countries, also referring to trilateral relations including the U.S. to deal with nuclear and missile issues, as well as abduction, of North Korea.

 

Lee is known as the leader who once took anti-Japan position. But he agreed with Ishiba to maintain close relationship with Japan with a hope to promote “shuttle diplomacy” of the leaders. It became a diplomatic gain in Canada for Ishiba to esablish cooperation with Lee who upholds “pragmatic diplomacy” for its own national interests. Ishiba returned to Japan where the opposition parties decided to refrain from submitting a non-confidence resolution against Ishiba in the Diet and all the parties are heading to the Upper House election.

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