Japan and the Rise of the Global South: Can Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision Survive?

Abstract

As presidency of the G7 Hiroshima 2023 Summit convened in May 2023, Japan was required to address challenges faced by the G7 in 2023. This article focuses on Japan’s relationship with the group of emerging and developing countries called the “Global South.” Although some analysts question the utility of the term, use of it has become mainstream. At the G20 Summit in Delhi held in September 2023, the Global South continued to receive attention. Here and in subsequent meetings, Prime Minister Kishida introduced Japan’s new plan for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” together with political and diplomatic considerations that have been advancing Japan’s policy toward the Global South.