G20 foreign ministers ended two days of talks in Atlanta on Saturday, October 31, without agreement on major security questions, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, and will issue a chair’s statement instead of a joint communiqué.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the gathering. It brought together diplomats from the world’s largest economies as they differed sharply over conflicts and other international disputes. Russia’s participation, including the presence of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, increased tensions with European officials.
Rubio canceled the traditional group photograph after some European diplomats objected to appearing alongside Lavrov. Some European diplomats also threatened to boycott the photograph or leave it. According to reporting from the meeting, the agenda also covered the war involving Iran, trade disagreements and China’s actions in the South China Sea.
The lack of a joint communiqué showed how difficult it was for all G20 members to agree on a shared position. Ministers nevertheless discussed possible areas for cooperation, including secure supply chains, critical minerals and free passage for ships along important sea routes. Rubio acknowledged that the group was far from finding solutions accepted by everyone.
He said practical cooperation was possible. The Atlanta meeting was held ahead of the G20 leaders’ summit planned for Miami in December.