| − | The '''G8''' is an informal group of eight major industrialized countries: the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[Japan]], [[Britain]], [[France]], [[Germany]], and [[Italy]] (plus the [[EU]] who has observer status), and between 1998 and 2014 [[Russia]]. The G8 heads of state have met annually since 1976 in summit meetings to discuss economic and political issues. | + | The '''G8''' is an informal group of eight major non-[[Western alliance|Western]] countries, Brazil, China, India, Russia, Indonesia, Iran, Turkey and Mexico. Many are former [[colonialism|colonies]] of Western [[imperialism]]. The group was formed after a series of aggressive wars by [[NATO]], the United States, and the [[European Union]] in the post-[[Cold War]] era, and the attempts by Western powers to spread [[globalism]] and maintain global hegemony through economic sanctions, [[coup]]s, proxy wars, and wars of aggression against target countries. |