Finished the first G20 financial summit of 2024among the main economies of the world, without a document due to the lack of consensus among some countries due to their positions regarding the two main international conflicts that are being carried out at this moment: wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
The Brazilian Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, He was the one who reported on the divergences of the countries to make the final declaration, after the meeting that took place in São Paulo, Brazil. “As often happens, many times it is not possible to reach a statement, An attempt was made to add geopolitical issues in what is the financial chapter of the G20“he explained at a press conference.
In any case, he clarified that the presidency of the G20, led by Brazil, will issue a statement with the consensus reached in the economic area.
France and Germany had expressed through their delegations that they would seek include in the joint statement a statement against Russia in the document for the war in Ukraine.
“We expected that the most sensitive geopolitical issues would be discussed exclusively in the diplomatic group, among the Sherpas. We imagine this division could occur“Haddad added.
Division among G20 countries over wars in Gaza and Ukraine
The wars in Gaza and Ukraine They had already been a cause of division at the foreign ministers’ summit in Rio de Janeiro last week. The countries that make up the G7 had expressed themselves in favor of condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, while the conflict was considered more “lateral” by the economies of the Global South.
Another disagreement had been around how to refer to the conflict in Israel, since there were disparate positions regarding whether to mention the country or simply refer to the “humanitarian crisis in Gaza”.
Brazil urges G20 to work on a global tax on the super-rich
These first meetings in Brazil They precede what will be the November summit of the members of the G20, with the imprint that the local agenda will have on issues such as the fight against inequalities and the fight against poverty, two of the president’s main flags Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Haddad had already admitted differences over the Brazilian proposal to create a minimum global tax for the super-rich within the framework of policies against hunger and inequality. Anyway, He acknowledged that there are different “visions” about the project and announced that the issue will be left for the next meeting in July between the finance ministers.
“I want to announce that this Presidency will try to build a G20 Declaration on international taxation until our ministerial meeting in July. We will consult all members and work together to have a balanced but ambitious document that reflects our legitimate aspirations“he emphasized.
“Brazil wants the topic of the meeting to deal with finances and the fight against poverty, the interministerial agenda of Finance. The meeting of foreign ministers addresses the issues of war,” a Brazilian diplomatic source told Télam.
Source: Ambito
