The G20 summit begins this Monday in Rio de Janeiro, in a context marked by climate crises, global conflicts and a recent political change in the United States. There the president of Brazil Lula da SIlva seeks to stand out as a mediator and defender of the interests of the Global South. Meanwhile, Javier Milei is expected to participate, after his meeting with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Buenos Aires.
Lula welcomed important international leaders and will hold bilateral meetings with representatives of the main participating nations. The G20, made up of G7 countries and emerging economies, represents 85% of the world’s GDP and two-thirds of the global population.
The summit is expected to conclude with a joint declaration reflecting the consensus reached among members. However, Milei is considering not joining if the final document does not align with government policy, especially on issues of security and climate change.
“I came to Rio with a simple message: G20 leaders must lead. The G20 countries, by definition, have enormous economic power. They wield enormous diplomatic influence. “Use it to address major global problems,” said UN Secretary General António Guterres.
Despite his focus on global cooperation, Lula made the decision not to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin due to the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court, of which Brazil is a part. Instead of focusing discussions on the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the Brazilian president will prioritize economic and climate challenges, seeking to achieve concrete progress in global cooperation.
The G20 begins in Brazil: what world leaders are going to talk about
The Brazilian presidency announced three priorities for debate: the fight against hunger, the transition to renewable energy and the reform of international institutions. One of the highlights of the summit will be the launch of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, an initiative proposed by Lula to combat these problems in a significant way by 2030.
Since its creation in 1999, the G20 has evolved beyond its initial focus on macroeconomic policy to include issues such as the environment and integration between the economies of the global north and south.
In this edition, the debate on the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur, whose negotiations have been going on for more than two decades, will also be resumed. This treaty seeks to establish the largest free trade area in the world, covering a market of 780 million people and eliminating more than 90% of tariffs between the blocs. It is estimated that this agreement could generate an annual trade volume of between 40,000 and 45,000 million euros.
The summit takes place just two weeks after the presidential elections in the United States, which gave victory to Donald Trump. Although Joe Biden will be present in Rio as the outgoing president, his participation raises expectations about how Trump’s return will affect global dynamics. This event will also be Biden’s last major global meeting before handing over power.
The G20 summit in Rio will be an opportunity for Lula to demonstrate Brazil’s return to international leadership. The 79-year-old president seeks to reinforce Brazil’s role as a mediator in global tensions and promote an agenda focused on climate urgency and economic challenges.
Source: Ambito
