The G20 leaders, including US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, are meeting in Rio de Janeiro for a November 18-19 summit.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu arrived earlier today, invited by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva despite Nigeria not being a member of the exclusive G20 club.
At the summit, Lula said there was now an urgent need to combat global hunger, stating, “It is our task to end this stain that shames humanity.”
Brazilian negotiator Ambassador Mauricio Lyrio said while a final declaration is necessary, launching a Global Alliance Against Hunger, supported by 81 nations as of Monday, is even more critical.
Lula, who previously reduced undernourishment in Brazil by over 80%, wants the world leaders to prioritize the fight against hunger at this summit. However, political experts believe achieving a global agreement on poverty and even a green energy transition will take more time and effort.
Resolving Geopolitical Tensions
Lula is also trying to use the summit to prod the attending world leaders into a common ground on some geopolitical issues. Since his return to power, unlike his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, President Lula has been pursuing a nonaligned policy and diplomatic engagement in resolving international conflicts.
However, his foreign policy has also been criticized, particularly regarding his peace plan for Ukraine, which does not explicitly demand Russia’s withdrawal.
Trump’s Shadow On The Summit
Although U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is not attending the summit and has yet to assume office, he is already casting shadows on the summit.
Most world leaders are weary of negotiating with President Joe Biden, who is on his way out. Argentine President Javier Milei, a key ally of Trump, even threatened to block a joint leaders’ statement over taxation on the ultra-rich and on gender issues.
Her move is seen as an attempt to curry favor with the incoming Trump administration, especially since Argentina had previously agreed to the declaration on taxing the wealthy.
As President Joe Biden promotes American leadership during his final summits, global leaders look past him to the next president, who is only eight weeks away from taking office.
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