Rio de Janeiro (EFE).- The heads of state and government of the G20 meet this Monday and Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), amid deep divisions over the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, regarding the proposal to create a tax in Brazil. super rich and on the differences to address a balanced transfer of energy.
Delegations from 55 countries and international organizations will gather at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio, armed for the occasion by around 20,000 soldiers and police who have turned the neighborhood of Rio de Flamengo into a bunker.
The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, will receive as host, a long list of leaders, including Joe Biden (United States), Xi Jinping (China), Claudia Sheinbaum (Mexico), Javier Milei (Argentina), Narendra Modi (India), Emmanuel Macron (France) and Olaf Scholz (Germany).
Brazil’s G20, again without Putin
Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Brazil, which holds the rotating presidency of the G20, a forum that brings together the world’s largest economies, invited Vladimir Putin, who declined the invitation.
The head of the Kremlin, who was also not at the last summit in New Delhi, is under an international arrest warrant for the war in Ukraine.
Russia’s three-year-old invasion of Ukrainian territory is one of the most vexing issues that could derail Brazil’s efforts to advance a consensual final declaration.
In addition there is the deterioration of the conflict in the Middle East, which has left almost 45,000 dead in the Gaza Strip and 3,500 in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks in one year.
The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (i). EFE/André Coelho
“We are negotiating with the other countries on the issue of items on geopolitics,” said Mauricio Lyrio,
Lula will not have an easy time convincing her partners. Matias Spektor, professor of International Relations at the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), believes that Brazil’s ties with the West are “severely compromised” by aligning themselves more and more with the BRICS, a group dominated by Russia and China, and entered Iran.
Objective: to end hunger
However, Brazil will focus the summit on three axes: ending hunger, the reform of international organizations (UN, IMF, World Bank, WTO …) and the energy transition.
First of all, on Monday he will launch the World Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, Lula’s big bet, with which he seeks to accelerate the fight against growing global inequality.
According to the EBT, hunger levels remained high in 2023 for the third consecutive year, with approximately 733 million undernourished people worldwide.
39 countries and 30 organizations have already subscribed to the new mechanism.
Another objective is to approve a global tax for the super-rich, an initiative that came against resistance from countries such as the US and Germany, and which did not go beyond a declaration of intent in previous ministerial meetings.
The energy transition will be the subject of the third plenary session on Tuesday, in a context where developing countries demand equal funding from the developed world to preserve the environment.
‘Milei effect’ rings
With the uncertainty of the future of Republican Donald Trump when he takes the US Presidency in January, Milei, a declared enemy of the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030, may spoil the Rio summit.
Nor did he sign the agreements adopted regarding women, strengthening democracy and sustainable development, at the XXIX Ibero-American Summit, held last week in Ecuador. That position is now a threat to the inclusion of the negotiations in Rio.
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Matias Spektor, Expert on International Relations
Time.news Editor: Good afternoon, Matias! Thank you for joining us to discuss the crucial G20 summit taking place in Rio de Janeiro. With such significant global issues on the table, what do you see as the most pressing challenges for Brazil as it hosts this summit?
Matias Spektor: Good afternoon! It’s a pleasure to be here. The G20 summit is pivotal, and Brazil faces multiple challenges. The greatest hurdles stem from the deep divisions among member countries, particularly regarding geopolitical tensions, such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. These conflicts are not only humanitarian crises but also threaten any potential consensus on other significant issues.
Time.news Editor: Indeed, the situation is dire, especially with the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Ukraine. With Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attending instead of President Putin, how do you think this absence will impact discussions on Ukraine?
Matias Spektor: Putin’s absence is quite telling. It underscores Russia’s isolation on the global stage due to its actions in Ukraine. However, having Lavrov present still allows Russia to push its narrative. The challenge for Brazil will be to navigate this delicate landscape and try to foster dialogue. Any lack of consensus on Ukraine could jeopardize Brazil’s ability to propose purposeful resolutions on other matters.
Time.news Editor: Speaking of resolutions, Brazil has proposed a tax on the super-rich and aims for a balanced energy transition. Given the current economic climate worldwide, do you think these objectives can gain traction among G20 leaders?
Matias Spektor: Brazil’s focus on social equity and sustainability through taxes on the rich and energy transitions is commendable, particularly considering the ongoing struggles with poverty and inequality. However, convincing leaders like Joe Biden and Xi Jinping of mutual interests may prove challenging, given their respective domestic priorities. Brazil will need to find common ground and emphasize the long-term benefits of such initiatives to drum up support.
Time.news Editor: There are also concerns about Brazil’s alignment with the BRICS nations, particularly China and Russia. You mentioned that this alignment could compromise Brazil’s relations with the West. How does this play into Brazil’s role as a G20 host?
Matias Spektor: That alignment complicates Brazil’s position significantly. While Brazil seeks to position itself as a leader of the Global South and advocate for developing nations, it risks alienating Western allies. The summit is an opportunity for Brazil to clearly articulate its diplomatic stance, showing that it can maneuver between these global powers. However, whether it can successfully manage relations without appearing to lean too heavily toward one side remains to be seen.
Time.news Editor: It sounds like a delicate balancing act. Before we conclude, what outcomes do you believe would signify a successful G20 summit for Brazil?
Matias Spektor: A successful G20 summit for Brazil would ideally involve tangible agreements on reducing inequality and a commitment to energy transition that reflects mutual interests. Even more importantly, fostering some level of dialogue or at least a framework for negotiations concerning the ongoing geopolitical tensions would be significant. Ultimately, Brazil needs to show leadership by promoting cooperation among these diverse nations.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Matias, for your insights! It will definitely be intriguing to watch how this summit unfolds amidst such complex global dynamics.
Matias Spektor: Thank you for having me! It’s certainly an exciting time for international relations, and I look forward to seeing how Brazil navigates these challenges.