Rifts over wars in Ukraine, ME loom over G20 meeting

ATLANTA, Oct 30: Deep rifts over the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are likely to derail unified actions or statements at a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from the world's 20 largest economies in Atlanta, experts and diplomats said.

The US has not invited South Africa to the ministerial, which takes place from October 30 to 31, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is attending, adding to tensions. Even the traditional G20 family photo has caused some headaches, with some European officials now suggesting two separate pictures �" one with Lavrov, one without.

With G20 members Russia, China and many middle powers such as Brazil and India trying to navigate US-China strategic competition, you have “much more of a split than we’ve ever had,” said Heidi Crebo-Rediker, who was chief economist at the State Department during the Obama administration.

Over the past decade or so, G7 countries would at least “have agreed a coordinated platform before they came to the G20, but now we don’t even really have that,” she added.

A State Department official told reporters on Thursday the Atlanta meeting would focus on energy and supply chain challenges, seen as crucial to the development of AI. The official said four G20 ministerial-level meetings held this year had achieved some consensus, but more work was needed before the December 14 to 16 leaders' summit in Miami. Although Ukraine has not been invited to join the G20 ministers in Atlanta.�"REUTERS