Rio de Janeiro, 19 November 2024: G20 leaders convening in Rio de Janeiro on Monday urged “comprehensive” ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon while pushing for coordinated efforts on poverty, climate change, and taxing the ultra-wealthy. The summit unfolded against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, including Ukraine’s ongoing war and the upcoming return of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to office in January.
Ukraine dominated discussions on the first day of the two-day summit, as the U.S. approved Kyiv’s use of long-range missiles against Russian territory. In their final declaration, leaders welcomed “constructive initiatives” for achieving a “comprehensive, just, and durable peace,” condemning forceful territorial acquisition. However, the document avoided explicitly referencing Russian aggression. Russian President Vladimir Putin, under an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, did not attend. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov represented Moscow instead.
The leaders’ statement also addressed the escalating conflict in Gaza, aligning with a U.S.-backed United Nations resolution that calls for a permanent ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages held by Hamas. It expressed “deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation” in Gaza and echoed similar concerns for Lebanon. Regarding Lebanon, the group called for a ceasefire to allow displaced individuals to safely return across the Blue Line dividing Israel, Lebanon, and the Golan Heights.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva steered the summit’s focus toward eradicating hunger and extreme poverty. The final communiqué endorsed taxing “ultra-high-net-worth individuals” as a means to address inequality. Lula, who grew up in poverty, introduced a global initiative to combat hunger, describing it as a consequence of political decisions rather than natural scarcity. The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty gained support from 81 countries, including 18 G20 members. Argentina, led by President Javier Milei, was the lone dissenter, citing objections to parts of the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, which Milei dismissed as a “socialist” programme.
While climate change discussions surfaced prominently in Lula’s opening remarks, the summit achieved no substantial breakthroughs. Leaders acknowledged the need to “scale up climate finance” but deferred specifics, agreeing to set funding goals by the upcoming COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan.
The gathering reflected a mix of shared concerns and divergent priorities, underscoring the challenge of forging global consensus amid crises.
