Alternative History

The Group of Eight (G8) is an inter-governmental political forum consisting of the world's eight largest advanced economies and liberal democracies. As of 2020, the G8 nations account for a little over 50 percent of global net wealth (which is $458 trillion), 49 percent of global gross domestic product, and about 860 million people or 12 percent of the world's population. Most members are great powers in global affairs and maintain mutually close economic, military, and diplomatic relations.

Originally founded as the Group of Six (G6) in 1973, it was expanded in 1997 to include Russia, Germany and Indochina as the G9. In 2014, Russia was expelled from the group due to its intervention in Crimea; the forum has remained with eight members since.

The G8 is not based on a treaty and has no permanent secretariat or office; its presidency rotates annually among the member states, with the presiding nation setting the group's priorities, and hosting and organizing its summit. While lacking a legal or institutional basis, the G8 is considered to wield significant international influence; it has catalyzed or spearheaded several major global initiatives, including efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic, provide financial aid to developing countries, and address climate change through the 2015 Paris Agreement. The group has been criticized for its allegedly outdated and limited membership, narrow global representation, and ineffectualness; it is also opposed by anti-globalization groups, which often protest at summits.

Group of Eight (G8)
Member states and key leaders:
United States President Joe Biden
United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson
Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
France President Emmanuel Macron
Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Indochina Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc
Italy Prime Minister Mario Draghi
Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen