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G20 Ministers End Meeting Without Deal 11/02 06:12
Top diplomats from the Group of 20 largest world economies wrapped up two
days of talks Saturday without reaching consensus on several critical global
security issues after divisions, notably over Russia's war with Ukraine,
visibly overshadowed the start of the Atlanta meeting and impacted its outcome,
too.
ATLANTA (AP) -- Top diplomats from the Group of 20 largest world economies
wrapped up two days of talks Saturday without reaching consensus on several
critical global security issues after divisions, notably over Russia's war with
Ukraine, visibly overshadowed the start of the Atlanta meeting and impacted its
outcome, too.
As a result, the group did not release a joint communique but relied on a
chairman's statement summarizing the talks that Secretary of State Marco Rubio
released after the meetings closed.
That statement made no mention of any agreements reached. Rather, it
referred to a list of priorities, from energy and food security to freedom of
navigation, that G20 members determined were important to solve.
"I wouldn't pretend to you today that we are close to finding universally
accepted solutions to these problems," Rubio told reporters at a news
conference marking the end of the meetings.
"But," he said, "I do think that among the G-20 represented here are
countries that are working together to solve some of them, particularly in the
realm of supply chains and critical minerals."
Rubio had said the first day of the session was "very productive." On
Saturday, he hosted sideline talks with his counterparts from Australia, India
and Japan before leading the final G20 event that focused on freedom of
navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red, Black and South China seas.
"I made clear to our partners that secure supply chains are essential for
growth," Rubio said in a social media post on X. "Critical trade routes
including the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb Strait must remain secure and
open to commerce. And we must continue to strengthen and expand critical
mineral supply chains to protect our future."
At a reception for G20 participants Friday night, Rubio sounded optimistic.
"Together, I think that we are mapping a vibrant, dynamic, and bold economic
future, one that will pioneer new horizons for the entire world," he said.
The traditional group photo was canceled
Rubio had opened the talks Friday with an appeal for unity, but then
canceled the traditional group photo of the foreign ministers. European
diplomats objected to the inclusion of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
and threatened to boycott or walk out of the snapshot.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski, who was representing his country
for the first time as a guest at a G20 meeting, said he was not surprised by
the failure to reach consensus. "We have wars going on, and we have
participants in those wars around the table, so it's very difficult to agree on
a common line," he said.
Other participants in the meetings, who spoke on condition of anonymity
because they were not authorized to discuss the private talks, said all had
agreed to try to overcome their differences despite the long odds and to work
to make next month's summit of G20 leaders hosted by President Donald Trump in
Florida a success.
These diplomats said a chairman's statement had long been the plan because
of the deep differences among the attendees, including over the Russia-Ukraine
war, the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, U.S. tariffs and Chinese moves in the
South China Sea. All have contributed to spikes in the global cost of fuel as
well as uncertainty about trade.
They described the opening session as cordial but said Russia's position on
Ukraine was unyielding -- as was its opposition to Poland's membership in the
G20. They said the disagreements also included the Trump administration's
decision not to invite G20 member South Africa over the objections of others.
Disagreements between even like-minded partners within the G20 were also on
display. A joint statement released after Rubio's talks with the Asia-Pacific
ministers referred six times to the importance of "Super Intelligence
(SI)(asterisk)" in driving economic growth.
The six asterisks led to a footnote making clear that "in Australia, India,
and Japan, 'Super Intelligence' refers to 'artificial intelligence." Trump
renamed "artificial intelligence" at the U.N. General Assembly in September,
saying the phrase sounded fake, and ordered the U.S. government to refer to it
as "Super Intelligence." No other country has taken such a step.
Russia's presence at G20 gathering roils Europeans
Before the meeting began, some G20 countries had expressed concern that the
U.S. invited Russia during its heightened attacks on Ukraine, especially after
Trump pushed ties with Ukraine to new lows by waiving fresh sanctions on Moscow
and temporarily limiting logistical and intelligence assistance.
The State Department, however, announced Friday that it had approved a
proposed $2.1 billion sale of Patriot air defense interceptors for Ukraine.
Rubio defended the decision to invite Lavrov to Atlanta and Putin to the
summit, saying it would be impossible to peacefully resolve the crisis without
speaking to both sides. And yet he offered a sober assessment of the current
situation.
"I don't know if negotiated peace is achievable in Ukraine," he said
Saturday. "That's what we're trying to find out, but I don't think anyone here
is claiming that we're on the verge of a negotiated settlement."
Lavrov said Moscow would not allow a situation in which Ukraine poses a
"military threat to legitimate security interests of the Russian Federation."
Lavrov has traveled only infrequently to NATO member states since Russia
invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and resulting severe sanctions were imposed on
Moscow. It is unclear whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will accept
Trump's invitation to attend the summit at Trump's Miami golf club in December.
The Iran war hangs over the G20 event
Also hanging over the G20 meeting was the prospect of new U.S. military
intervention in Iran. That has put the region, including G20 member Saudi
Arabia, on edge. Rubio met on Friday with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal
bin Farhan, as well as Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, whose country has
been a key mediator.
The Associated Press has reported that U.S. officials have told several
Middle East countries and regional allies to be prepared for potential renewed
military strikes against Iran after U.S. elections Tuesday and the possibility
that Iran will retaliate.
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