EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR SUNDAY MAY 21, 2023
G7 Summit Promotes War, as Others Seek for New ‘Peace Zones’
May 20, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)—Today in Japan, the drums of shooting and economic war beat loudly for the leaders of the Group of Seven and eight guest nations attending the second of the May 19-21 G7 Summit in Hiroshima.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy flew in early, with great fanfare on a French government jet, for bilateral meetings with heads of state or government, and a formal presentation at the conclusion of the G7 tomorrow. U.S. President Joe Biden and European leaders confirmed their backing for Ukraine to receive F-16 fighter jets, and for training Ukraine pilots on the rush. The G7 leaders released their 44-page “G7 Hiroshima Leaders’ Communiqué” pledging military backing for Ukraine “as long as it takes,” and a host of other NATO narratives and decrees from on high.
From Russia, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko denounced the F-16 move as a “colossal mistake” by the Western leaders.
In tandem with the G7 militarization moves, came belligerence in the economic sphere. The featured concept is that the G7 will combat “economic coercion” wherever it appears, meaning from China and Russia. This and related tactics are discussed in the 66 points in the Communiqué, and in six “Reference Documents” issued alongside it. The “G7 Leaders’ Statement on Economic Resilience and Economic Security” states:
“We express serious concern over economic coercion and call on all countries to refrain from its use ... [as it] infringes upon the international order centered on respect for sovereignty and the rule of law....” The U.S. Treasury on May 19 announced 300 new sanctions against Russia and third party evaders wherever they may be, saying its act is “in line with the G7.”
Today, the Chinese Foreign Ministry released an official reproach, stating that the United States is the one responsible for economic coercion in the world, by engaging in “massive unilateral sanctions and acts of ‘decoupling’ and disrupting industrial and supply chains.” The statement asserted that “gone are the days when a handful of Western countries can just willfully meddle in other countries’ internal affairs and manipulate global affairs.”
The truth of Beijing’s assessment is reflected in the large meetings of heads of state that have just concluded elsewhere, where new initiatives are underway to oppose economic warfare, and explicitly commit to peace, even to create “zones of peace” in the world, and zones of economic betterment. Such actions are acutely required in locations that were subjected to years of Global NATO occupation, including in Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Syria. The 22 nations in the Arab League ended their summit on May 19 in Saudi Arabia, issuing a “Jeddah Declaration.”
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said yesterday in his address to the League that this is an “historic opportunity.” He said, “I hope that it marks the beginning of a new phase of Arab action for solidarity among us, for peace in our region, development and prosperity instead of war and destruction.”
In China yesterday, six Presidents from Central Asia and China together at Xi’an, at the conclusion of the first-ever Summit of China and Central Asia, held a joint press conference, announcing “The six countries will take the 10th anniversary of Belt and Road cooperation as a new starting point.” Their Xi’an Declaration commits to dramatic, new economic development plans that will support a thriving Central Asia-China “community of peace.”
These are welcome, happy events. But we face an epic world crisis because, as is seen now in Hiroshima, the G7 and Global NATO militarization and madness has reached the point of provoking or accidentally setting off a nuclear holocaust.
It is time for everyone, anywhere, to act. Sign and circulate the Schiller Institute statement: “Urgent Appeal by Citizens and Institutions from All Over the World to the (Next) President of the United States!”
