G8

This article is about the former political forum. For its precursor and successor, see G7. For other uses, see G8 (disambiguation).

Map of G8 member nations and the European Union

The Group of Eight (G8) was an intergovernmental political forum from 1997–2014.[1] It had formed from incorporating Russia into the G7, and returned to its previous name after Russia was expelled in 2014.[2]

The forum originated with a 1975 summit hosted by France that brought together representatives of six governments: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, thus leading to the name Group of Six or G6. The summit came to be known as the Group of Seven in 1976 with the addition of Canada. Russia was added to the political forum from 1997, which the following year became known as the G8. In March 2014 Russia was suspended indefinitely following the annexation of Crimea, whereupon the political forum name reverted to G7.[3][4][5] In January 2017, Russia announced its permanent withdrawal from the G8.[2] However, several representatives of G7 countries stated that they would be interested in Russia's return to the group.[6][7][8] The European Union (or predecessor institutions) was represented at the G8 since the 1980s as a "nonenumerated" participant, but originally could not host or chair summits.[9] The 40th summit was the first time the European Union was able to host and chair a summit. Collectively, in 2012 the G8 nations comprised 50.1 percent of 2012 global nominal GDP and 40.9 percent of global GDP (PPP). The G8 countries were not strictly the largest in the world nor the highest-income per capita, but they do represent the largest high-income countries.

"G7" can refer to the member states in aggregate or to the annual summit meeting of the G7 heads of government. G7 ministers also meet throughout the year, such as the G7 finance ministers (who meet four times a year), G7 foreign ministers, or G7 environment ministers.

Each calendar year, the responsibility of hosting the G8 was rotated through the member states in the following order: France, United States, United Kingdom, Russia (suspended), Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada. The holder of the presidency sets the agenda, hosts the summit for that year, and determines which ministerial meetings will take place.

In 2005, the UK government initiated the practice of inviting five leading emerging markets – Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa – to participate in the G8 meetings that came to be known as G8+5. With the G20 major economies growing in stature since the 2008 Washington summit, world leaders from the group announced at their Pittsburgh summit in September 2009 that the group would replace the G8 as the main economic council of wealthy nations.[10][11] Nevertheless, the G7 retains its relevance as a "steering group for the West",[1] with special significance appointed to Japan.[12]

  1. ^ a b "The Group of Eight (G8) Industrialized Nations". CFR. Archived from the original on 15 November 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Russia just quit the G8 for good". Independent.co.uk. 13 January 2017.
  3. ^ "U.S., other powers kick Russia out of G8". CNN.com. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  4. ^ Smale, Alison; Shear, Michael D. (24 March 2014). "Russia Is Ousted From Group of 8 by U.S. and Allies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  5. ^ "Russia suspended from G8 over annexation of Crimea, Group of Seven nations says". National Post. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  6. ^ "FDP's push to invite Putin to G7 sows discord within possible German coalition". Reuters. 12 October 2017.
  7. ^ "G7 beraten über Syrien und die Ukraine". Deutsche Welle (in German).
  8. ^ "Trump calls for Russia to be invited to G8". Financial Times. 8 June 2018. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022.
  9. ^ Until recently, the EU had the privileges and obligations of a membership that did not host or chair summits. It was represented by the Commission and Council presidents. "EU and the G8". European Commission. Archived from the original on 26 February 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
  10. ^ "Officials: G-20 to supplant G-8 as international economic council". CNN. 25 September 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  11. ^ "G20 to replace the G8". SBS. 26 September 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
  12. ^ "Japan and the G20: Ambivalence and the China factor". 11 February 2011.