Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi defends her absence from a Group of Seven (G7) online meeting after criticism questioning why she did not participate, despite her schedule appearing open. She responds to the questions publicly on social media, addressing why she was not on the call.
Multiple outlets report that Takaichi says the meeting is arranged on short notice and was led by the G7 chair, France. She also points to the agenda, which she says focuses on diesel prices in Europe and the United States, and she highlights that substitute representation was allowed. She further notes that other leaders were absent or did not attend in person, including UK Prime Minister Burnham and European Council president Costa, according to her post.
Across the reports, the dispute centers on whether her decision not to join the online session was justified given the timing and her apparent availability. Outlets describe her explanation as emphasizing process (last-minute scheduling and substitutes) and agenda-related considerations.
