The G8 (Group of Eight) was an international forum consisting of eight major advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It was established in 1975 as the G6 to discuss economic issues, and later became the G7 in 1976 with the inclusion of Canada. Russia was added to the group in 1998, making it the G8, but was later suspended in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea. The G8 has since been replaced by the G7.