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G20 foreign ministers end Atlanta meeting without joint communique; Rubio cancels group photo over Lavrov
G20 foreign ministers ended two days of talks in Atlanta on 31 October without a joint communique, so Marco Rubio will issue a chair's statement. Ukraine, Iran and tariffs divided them, the group photo was cancelled after Europeans objected to Lavrov, and South Africa was not invited.
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The G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta ended on Saturday, 31 October, without a joint communique. After two days of talks, the host, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said he would release a chair's statement summarising the discussions instead. Participants were divided over the war in Ukraine, the US-Iran conflict and American tariff policy.
At the closing press conference Rubio pointed to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea, critical mineral supply chains and food security as shared concerns, and said some members are cooperating on supply chains and critical minerals. But he said the group was not close to agreed answers: 'I wouldn't pretend to you today that we are close to finding universally accepted solutions to these problems.'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended, and Moscow's position on Ukraine was described as unyielding. He said Russia would not allow Ukraine to pose a military threat to its security interests. Russia also opposed Poland's membership of the group, though Poland's foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, attended as a guest.
The prospect of fresh US military action against Iran overshadowed the talks. Officials from the United States have told some Middle Eastern countries to prepare for possible renewed strikes after the 3 November midterm elections, and several delegations voiced concern about a strike and Iranian retaliation. US tariffs and Chinese actions in the South China Sea were also points of contention. Several delegates said the wars and the tariffs have pushed up fuel costs and trade uncertainty worldwide.
China sent Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu. He said geopolitical tensions are rising while the development agenda is lagging, promoted China's Global Security Initiative and called for stable industrial and supply chains.
Rubio cancelled the traditional group photo on the opening day after European diplomats objected to appearing next to Lavrov and threatened to boycott it. Representatives of Australia and Canada were also reported to have opposed posing with him. The Trump administration did not invite South Africa, which held the G20 presidency last year, despite objections from other members. Rubio held side meetings with counterparts from Australia, India and Japan.
President Donald Trump will host the G20 leaders' summit next month at his Miami-area golf club and has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin. Rubio said Russia has not yet confirmed whether Putin will attend.
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