A G20 foreign ministers’ meeting has kicked off in the US, bringing together top diplomats from the world’s leading economies for two days of discussions of pressing global economic challenges, geopolitical tensions, and international security issues.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is hosting the gathering, which opened on Friday, in the Southern city of Atlanta, Georgia, where the main focus will be on economic growth, energy and food security, freedom of navigation, and the resilience of global supply chains.
Opening the meeting, Rubio urged members to work together to address interconnected economic and geopolitical crises, warning of growing threats to energy and food supplies, international trade and freedom of navigation.
He described the current period as a “moment of choosing”, saying challenges facing the US also had implications for the wider world.
The gathering opened with Rubio’s remarks, without the traditional group photo, after several European officials indicated they would not appear alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Asked on the sidelines whether he would join a photo with Lavrov, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said: “I assume there will be no family photograph at all.”
He added that European partners would not pose alongside the Russian minister. “There is no normality with Russia,” he said.
'Series of interconnected economic, geopolitical crises'
“We are facing a series of interconnected economic and geopolitical crises, many of which pose severe threats to essential foundations of the global economic order,” said Rubio.
He identified disruptions to global energy and food supplies, supply chains, trade, and freedom of navigation as major challenges requiring a coordinated response.
Rubio called on G20 partners to strengthen economic resilience, safeguard markets, and protect the economies that depend on them.
He also stressed the role of foreign ministers and political leaders in coordinating responses to emerging crises and protecting shared interests.
“By translating our shared interests into practical cooperation and real action, we can reinforce global stability and, more importantly, deliver meaningful results for our citizens,” he said.
Rubio said the assembled officials faced a busy two-day agenda, with the opening plenary session focusing on freedom of navigation and food security.
Fidan to address Gaza, regional tensions
Fidan is set to address the situation in Gaza, tensions between the US and Iran, and the importance of safeguarding strategic maritime routes. He is also expected to underline Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts to promote regional security and stability.
Lavrov, who is leading the Russian delegation, is expected to call for greater economic cooperation and equal dialogue among G20 members. Moscow has also criticised Washington’s decision to exclude South Africa from the G20 process, calling for its membership rights to be restored.
US President Donald Trump earlier announced that South Africa would not receive an invitation to the 2026 summit. The decision followed Washington’s boycott of the Johannesburg summit and stemmed from Trump’s claims of persecution of white farmers in South Africa.
The Group of Twenty (G20) is an international forum bringing together the world's major advanced and emerging economies to discuss and coordinate global economic policies and address key international challenges.
Established in 1999 in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis, its membership now consists of 19 countries and the European Union and the African Union, which joined in 2023.
