The Japanese government is perplexed by U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to expand the framework of the Group of Seven summit talks.
U.S. officials reportedly have expressed caution regarding Trump's plan, and the Japanese government had decided to take a wait-and-see position on the issue.
After Trump announced his intention to expand the summit on May 30, U.S. officials expressed negative views regarding an early expansion of the framework in diplomatic exchanges, according to senior Foreign Ministry officials.
One of the officials said they understand the difference between formally adding new members and bringing a nation in as an observer, and that the addition of new members will need to be discussed at the G7 meeting, according to the Japanese officials.
The host country of a summit can invite other countries as observers. At the Ise-Shima summit in 2016, Japan invited Indonesia, Chad and other countries to attend. Trump has indicated his intention to invite Russia, India, Australia and South Korea. However, "he may not be aware of the distinction between formal enrollment and invitation," said a Japanese government source.
Some European members oppose the invitation of Russia, which became a full member in 1997 following the end of the Cold War. It was expelled after it annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi took a cautious stance at a press conference on Tuesday, saying, "I want to communicate with the United States and other member countries."
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