The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations, including the three nuclear-armed nations of the United States, Britain, and France, visited the Peace Memorial Museum (Atomic Bomb Museum) on the 19th and conveyed to the world the reality of the atomic bombing (Prime Minister Fumio Kishida). All countries are reassessing their nuclear capabilities as a pillar of deterrence, but it seems that they have decided that they will be a force to check against China, which continues to expand its military, and Russia, which repeatedly threatens nuclear weapons.
It has been raining since morning in the center of Hiroshima city. The heads of state participating in the summit arrived at the Peace Memorial Park one after another after 10:00 am. We shook hands with Mr. Kishida, who greeted us with Mrs. Hiroko and took a commemorative photo with the Atomic Bomb Dome in the background. Mr. Kishida continued to stand until the last appearance of US President Biden and his wife and personally invited Mr. Biden to the museum.
After visiting the museum, British Prime Minister Sunak tweeted, "Deeply moved. It's important to learn from the past, including the dark moments." French President Emmanuel Macron said that he would not forget the victims of Hiroshima and would work together for peace.
In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the United States, Britain, and France have all positioned nuclear forces as "the cornerstone of their defense" (the French government). The world trend is in the opposite direction of nuclear disarmament and the ideal of a world without nuclear weapons. Under these circumstances, the summit's focus was on the same level as, if not more than, nuclear disarmament, on the reaffirmation of the importance of continuing the non-use of nuclear weapons.
Even with the maximum mobilization of conventional forces, Russia has not been able to bring down neighboring Ukraine, which has a population of less than one-third and an economy of less than one-ninth and has repeatedly mentioned the possibility of using nuclear weapons. It is impossible for the United States, Britain, and France to pledge not to use nuclear weapons as long as they are confronting the nuclear threat from Russia. Nevertheless, it is possible to send a symbolic message by showing that the G7 takes the nuclear catastrophe seriously.
"It is no coincidence that we are in Hiroshima today." At a press conference before visiting the museum, European Union President Michel emphasized, "Here in Hiroshima, Russia's claims about nuclear weapons are unacceptable and irresponsible."
