Japan is opposed to expanding the official membership of the summit of the Group of Seven key industrialized nations, Chief Cabinet Secretary SUGA Yoshihide said Monday.

“We believe that maintaining the current G-7 framework is extremely important,” the top Japanese government spokesman said at a press conference.

The comment came after US President Donald Trump proposed a G-7 expansion that includes other nations such as South Korea, Russia and India to join in the framework.

On a media report that the Japanese government has told the United States of its opposition toward including South Korea in the G-7 framework, Suga declined to comment on the details due to it being a diplomatic matter.

“Ultimately, the way this year’s G-7 summit is held will be determined by the United States,” Suga said. The United States is the chair for the G-7 this year.

The G-7 nations are Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. Representatives of the European Union also join G-7 talks.

JIJI Press