G7 Hiroshima statement short on 'Vision'

Posted: 25th May 2023

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The leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK and USA, meeting for the G7 Summit in Hiroshima May 19-21, adopted a Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament which reaffirms commitments to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament and criticizes Russia and China for their nuclear weapons policies. But it fails to commit the G7 countries to any new measures to reduce nuclear threats or advance nuclear disarmament.  

Indeed, the Hiroshima Vision statement backtracks from the G20 Bali Declaration from November last year that The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible”  Calls made by civil society to the G7 leaders to reaffirm and implement the Bali Declaration appear to have fallen on deaf ears. 

Backtracking from the G20 Declaration

Instead of affirming that “The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible” (without exception or caveat), the Hiroshima Vision says only that “…threats by Russia of nuclear weapon use … in the context of its aggression against Ukraine are inadmissible.”

In addition, the Hiroshima Vision notes that “security policies are based on the understanding that nuclear weapons, for as long as they exist, should serve defensive purposes, deter aggression and prevent war and coercion.”

“In essence the Hiroshima Vision implies (incorrectly) that it is perfectly “admissible” to threaten nuclear weapon use for defensive purposes and to deter aggression and prevent war and coercion,” said Aaron Tovish, Steering Committee Member of NoFirstUse Global, speaking from Hiroshima. “Many of Russia’s string of nuclear threats have been couched in this language, as have many of the US’s past nuclear threats.” (See Neither Gold, Silver nor Bronze: G7’s SUBstandard performance in Hiroshima). 

Nuclear Taboo from Norm to Law presented to the G7 Summit

Over 1000 legislators, youth, academics/experts, religious leaders and civil society leaders from G7 and other countries endorsed the NoFirstUse Global declaration, Nuclear Taboo from Norm to Law, calling for affirmation and implementation of the Bali statement that “The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible.”

The Declaration and list of endorsers was presented to the Foreign Ministry of Japan (host of the G7 Summit) and to a cross-party meeting of parliamentarians in the Diet (Japanese parliament) just prior to the Summit. In addition, it was circulated to media and civil society observers at the G7 Summit.

Onward to the NPT, G20 and UNGA

NoFirstUse Global are not giving up on implementation of the G20 Bali statement on nuclear weapons. They are continuing to accept endorsements for Nuclear Taboo from Norm to Law in order to present it also to Preparatory Meeting of States Parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty in Vienna (August), G20 Summit in Delhi (September) and the UN General Assembly (October).Yours sincerely
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