G20 foreign ministers express concern about escalating conflicts in the world

The meeting of foreign ministers of the G20 He ended his first day of work in Rio de Janeiro this Wednesday with latent concern about the conflicts in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine and a call for peace and solidarity by some member countries.

The event, which brings together the foreign ministers of the world’s largest economies, took place behind closed doors except for the opening speech of the Brazilian Foreign Minister, Mauro Vieira, which was broadcast live on social networks.

The first ministerial meeting of the G20 since Brazil assumed the presidency of the forum began with a call from the host country for peace and cooperation, without which, said the foreign minister, it will be very difficult to confront poverty and inequalities or climate changes.

In the midst of the tensions experienced in the global situation, the issue was echoed by Mexico, which called for the return of solidarity and humanism in international relations.

“Peace is not found in force, but in equality, justice and law,” said the Mexican Foreign Minister, Alicia Bárcena, during the meeting, according to a message that was later published by the diplomat on social networks.

I appeal for the reform of multilateral organizations

The head of Brazilian diplomacy took advantage of his speech to reiterate the request for Brazil to reform multilateral organizations, an issue that will be the focus of discussions on Thursday’s agenda and one of the axes promoted by the South American country during its presidency.

For Brazil, it is necessary that there be a “modern and effective” international governance system, with rules that are followed by all countries, so that conflicts and differences are resolved “through multilateral dialogue and not by weapons.”

The chancellor criticized the ineffectiveness of the Security Council of the UN to resolve conflicts such as those in Ukraine and Gaza, and said that the paralysis of the organization causes the deaths of innocent civilians.

As Vieira explained in his speech, Brazil is “deeply concerned” about the current international situation regarding peace and security and said that the G20 can play a “fundamental” role in reducing international tensions.

The High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, who assured that the G20 remains a “primary forum” to address current complex global challenges.

“As the world sees confrontation and escalation, we must demonstrate that multilateralism works in times of crisis”said the senior diplomat in a message published on social networks.

Bilateral meetings

Some of these topics were discussed hours before the opening of the event between the president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, who made a lightning visit to Brasilia and then traveled to Rio.

According to a statement from the Brazilian Presidency, Lula reaffirmed in the meeting “his desire for peace and the end of the conflicts in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip.”

Although both “agreed on the need for the creation of a Palestinian State” as a way to solve the conflict in Gaza, they made their differences clear regarding the Ukraine.

While Lula defended a “diplomatic” solution, Blinken said that the “conditions” for this do not exist and stressed the firm support of the United States for kyiv.

The agenda outside the event was hectic in Rio, especially for Brazil, whose foreign minister had bilateral meetings with his Argentine counterpart, Diana Mondino, with his Russian counterparts, Sergei Lavrov; France, Stéphane Sejourné; Egypt, Sameh Shoukry, and Indonesia, Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi, and with the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister, Ma Zhaoxu, among others.

Brazil assumed the presidency of the G20 in December 2023 and will end his mandate in November of this year, with the forum’s presidential summit, which will also be held in Rio in Janeiro.