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G20 ministers meet in Brazil to discuss conflicts, global governance
G20 foreign ministers gathered in Rio de Janeiro to discuss global tensions and governance reform, led by President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva, amidst skepticism over feasibility amid ongoing conflicts.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil's Finance Minister Fernando Haddad and Brazil's Central Bank President Roberto Campos Neto attend the meeting of the opening of the G20 sherpa and finance tracks joint session in Brasilia at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, Brazil December 13, 2023. REUTERS/Adriano Machado
Foreign ministers from the G20 nations convened in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday to address global tensions and explore avenues for enhancing multilateral organisations ahead of their annual leaders’ summit led by Brazil.
President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva of Brazil has prioritized global governance reform, alongside initiatives to combat climate change and alleviate poverty, for this year’s G20 agenda. However, amidst ongoing conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Gaza war, diplomats express skepticism regarding the feasibility of advancing proposals for global governance enhancement within the world’s major economies.
“We find ourselves in a world lacking effective governance, with an unprecedented proliferation of conflicts. There’s a glaring absence of mechanisms to address these global challenges,” remarked diplomat Mauricio Lyrio, Brazil’s G20 sherpa, during discussions with reporters on Tuesday.
Lyrio noted the existing consensus on the imperative to reform the United Nations, particularly Brazil’s advocacy for expanding the Security Council. However, he acknowledged the resistance from veto-wielding nations, hindering progress since the organisation’s inception after World War II.
“This gathering will primarily serve as a platform to articulate the case for multilateral reform and to diagnose the issues,” stated a European diplomat speaking to Reuters.
President Lula has criticized the United Nations for its failure to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict, recently escalating tensions by accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. This led to a diplomatic rift, with Brazil recalling its ambassador in response to Israeli reprimands.
The two-day conference, hosted at a Rio marina, commenced with an analysis of global conflicts, including those in Ukraine and Gaza. Crucially, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will engage in their first face-to-face meeting since a brief encounter at last year’s foreign ministers’ gathering in New Delhi.
Thursday’s agenda will center on discussions regarding global governance, as outlined by Lyrio.
In a novel approach, Brazil proposed hosting a second G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in September during the U.N. General Assembly in New York. This initiative aims to advance talks on global governance, with participation open to all U.N. member states.
Comprising approximately 85% of global GDP, over 75% of global trade, and about two-thirds of the world’s population, the G20 holds significant sway in shaping global economic and political landscapes.
