The G20 Summit held recently in Rio de Janeiro became the stage for dramatic exchanges between Ukraine's allies and Russia, each side blaming the other for the continuing escalation of the conflict. The final day of talks on November 20, 2024, saw these tensions come to the forefront, overshadowing discussions on climate change and poverty alleviation, which Brazilian President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva had hoped would dominate the agenda.
Eager to address climate issues impacted by global conflict, Lula called for substantial cooperation among world powers to rescue stalled United Nations climate talks happening simultaneously in Azerbaijan. He labeled it as pivotal for the planet's survival.
During the summit, U.S. President Joe Biden, attending what would be his last G20 as president before transitioning power to Donald Trump, made impassioned pleas for immediate climate action. "History is watching us," he asserted to his fellow leaders, emphasizing the urgency of environmental issues.
Yet, Biden's presence at the summit was marred by his recent decision to shift U.S. policy significantly. Just days before the G20, he authorized Ukraine to hit targets deep within Russia using U.S. missiles, marking the first time Kyiv would receive clearance for such operations. This unprecedented green light was seen as a direct response to Russia's recruitment of North Korean soldiers to fight alongside their troops. Unsurprisingly, this move raised alarm bells among allies and prompted intense accusations from Russian officials.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov heightened these tensions by claiming during the summit discussions, "The United States and Russia are on the brink of direct military conflict." This declaration was met with widespread concern from Ukrainian supporters, especially as leaders of Western nations, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, criticized what they termed 'irresponsible rhetoric' stemming from Moscow.
On the periphery of these contentious discussions, French President Emmanuel Macron took the opportunity to reach out to Chinese President Xi Jinping, urging him to leverage his influence with Russian President Vladimir Putin to temper the hostilities. Xi, who has positioned himself as a stabilizing force amid these turbulent times, engaged with several leaders throughout the summit, seeking to assert China's role as a defender of international order.
Notably, Xi Jinping's recent efforts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine faced setbacks, as Kyiv rejected proposals for negotiations, demanding substantial Russian withdrawals prior to any talks. Despite the grim atmosphere, the summit concluded with no consensus on addressing Russian aggression explicitly. The language used was carefully calibrated, acknowledging only broad support for initiatives aimed at fostering peace, underscoring the fractured perspectives on the conflict.
The Brazilian president embraced the summit as pivotal for advancing his dual agenda of eradicatinng global hunger and advancing climate talks, which had stalled at the COP29 gathering. Lula emphasized the importance of immediate action, remarking, "We cannot leave the task of Baku until Belem," referring to next year's UN climate conference to be held in Brazil.
Despite Lula's calls, the G20 joint statement fell short of providing the momentum needed for climate activists. While it recognized the dire need for substantial financing to help developing nations contend with the climate crisis, the members noticeably omitted specific pledges to phase out fossil fuels—an absence deemed frustrating by negotiators striving for actionable commitments.
Biden echoed Lula’s sentiments, calling climate change the "single greatest existential threat to humanity" and imploring collective action to combat it. Still, the absence of any commitment to fossil fuel reduction left many disheartened.
Meanwhile, the image of Biden's diminished global presence was highlighted by his missing the first group photo of the summit, only appearing later, which reflected his passing influence as he prepares to hand over the reins to Trump, who is viewed skeptically by many on climate and international engagement.
Brazil's G20 presidency has seen Lula secure two significant wins. He successfully rallied leaders from around 80 countries, including reluctant parties, to back his initiative to combat hunger. The group also agreed to strive for higher taxes on billionaires, highlighting Lula's plans to address longstanding societal imbalances.
The G20 summit's proceedings captured the deep fractures around the conflict's resolution, leaving many unresolved tensions and showing how global crises intertwine with national interests and geopolitical maneuvering.
