RTT Responds to the G7 Summit
The leaders of the G7 met in Hiroshima, Japan. At the summit, the leaders adopted a joint communique on nuclear disarmament. They highlighted the 77-year record of the non-use of nuclear weapons and the Joint Statement of the Five Nuclear Weapon States on Preventing Nuclear War and Avoiding an Arms Race. The leaders also underscored the importance of youth initiatives in empowering the next generation of leaders.
The leaders highlighted their concerns on Russia’s provocative actions in Ukraine, recent ballistic tests by the DPRK, and Iran. Unfortunately, the communique falls far short on a vision for a world free of nuclear weapons.
As mentioned previously, the G7 recognized that nuclear weapons have not been used in 77 years and declared that Russia’s nuclear rhetoric was “dangerous and unacceptable”. However, despite their recognition and condemnation of Russia’s behavior, the leaders did not present any concrete steps for nuclear disarmament; even though the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is the perfect framework to do so. The G7 recalled the statement made by all G20 leaders in Bali as well as the Joint Statement of the Leaders of the Five Nuclear- Weapon States issued on January 3, 2022, on Preventing Nuclear War and Avoiding Arms Races, affirming that the use of nuclear weapons would not be tolerated and that a nuclear war should never be fought. This summit was the opportunity for all G7 leaders to come together and make concrete commitments on nuclear disarmament, starting with the acknowledgment and possible participation in the TPNW; however, in its statement, the G7 did not mention the treaty a single time.
The G7 also demanded that North Korea must refrain “from any other destabilizing or provocative actions” and mentioned the need for sanctions but did not seem to act on their words. Additionally, the G7 expressed their concerns about Iran and its possible ambition to develop nuclear weapons. In this regard, leaders urged all countries, especially Iran, to support the implementation of UNSCR 2231.
While the G7 leaders condemned Russia’s actions, DPRK, and Iran, the leaders did not adopt an innovative approach to establishing a world free of nuclear weapons. Specifically, the communique failed to acknowledge that the nuclear armed states have collectively spent 82.4 billion dollars on the maintenance and modernization of their nuclear weapons. The communique also does not acknowledge the significance of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Prior to the summit, the G7 leaders only spent 30 minutes at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum before placing a wreath at the cenotaph. They also met briefly with atomic bomb survivors. This is a missed opportunity for the G7 leaders, especially the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, to acknowledge the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental impacts of nuclear weapons.
Satoshi Tanaka, survivor of the atomic bombing and Secretary General of the Liaison Conference of Hiroshima Hibakusha Organisations said: “This is not the genuine nuclear disarmament that Hibakusha are calling for. This is an evasion of their responsibility. Prime Minister Kishida has said that the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is the final passage for a nuclear weapon-free world. No, it is not a final passage. It is the entry point. PM Kishida and other G7 leaders should accept the TPNW and start the real process of eliminating nuclear weapons.”
Due to the G7 leaders’ refusal to adopt a robust vision for a world free of nuclear weapons, they did not fulfill the expectations from both hibakusha and youth. We recognize and understand that change takes time but these leaders seem to have left the summit rather empty handed, with nothing of sufficient substance to advance nuclear disarmament. Therefore, we now demand that these leaders recognize and honor the lived experiences of the hibakusha and all other communities that have suffered and continue to suffer from the effects of nuclear weapons. The issue of nuclear weapons is pressing and needs to be addressed now. To ensure this, we will continue to apply pressure on legislators and government officials, as well as the public and youth in these respective countries, to motivate the G7 to take action on nuclear disarmament by supporting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The TPNW is the most effective path we have and we need to use it.
A step forward in the right direction would be for G7 states to attend the 2nd Meeting of States Parties which will take place in late November 2023 in New York. Their willingness to engage would suggest that they are finally taking responsibility. As highlighted in the ICAN G7 Youth Statement, we request G7 states to properly assess the needs of frontline communities, with input from key stakeholders, and ensure that assistance is properly given to the victims of nuclear weapons.