Trudeau in Japan for G7 summit with China, Russia threat in focus

This year's summit will focus on seven main agenda items, including geopolitical and global security issues, economic resilience and climate change and energy.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has landed in Hiroshima, Japan for the G7 Leaders’ Summit, where he’s expected to push for increased co-operation on global and economic security to guard against geopolitical instability and the threat of climate change.

All eyes will be on how G7 countries, however, choose to address the threat of China specifically.

Leaders of G7 countries – Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Japan – meet annually to collaborate on shared goals. This year’s summit will focus on seven main agenda items, including geopolitical and global security issues, economic resilience and climate change and energy.

Prior to the summit, Trudeau concluded his first official visit to South Korea on Thursday where the two countries reached agreements on the supply chain of critical minerals – used for electric vehicles – and youth mobility.

Canada is hoping to expand its alliances beyond its traditional western partners by seeking closer relationships with South Korea and Japan. The Liberal government’s Indo-Pacific strategy provides a roadmap for strengthening military and economic relationships in the region to counterbalance the influence of Beijing.

Seoul and Tokyo have also been working to repair their relations as they deepen three-way security co-operation with Washington in response to growing regional threats from North Korea and China.

The meeting between G7 countries comes amid elevated tensions with China in the region and an ongoing war in Ukraine, both of which are expected to be focuses of the summit.

For Canada’s part, it’s expected to seek the G7 members’ co-operation on providing ongoing support to Ukraine as well as addressing climate change.