WorldPosted at: Nov 1 2026 4:04PM


G20 foreign ministers end meeting without joint communique amid geopolitical divisions

Atlanta, Oct. 31 (UNI) Group of 20 foreign ministers ended a two-day meeting in Atlanta on Saturday without issuing a joint communique, highlighting deep divisions over geopolitical conflicts, energy security and global trade as tensions surrounding Ukraine and the US-Iran conflict continued to weigh on the international economy.
The meeting, chaired by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focused on energy security, supply chain resilience and geopolitical tensions, including disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The statement said that every country is sensitive to the price of energy. "Every time there is an increase in the price of gasoline, the cost of natural gas to heat a home, or the electricity to power our digital lives, the cost of energy is felt by everyone. No country can have prosperity without energy. Far too often governments have placed barriers to energy production and punished their own people with higher costs. This is why it is not enough to have access to energy; it is important that energy is abundant and access for everyone is affordable. These conditions promote productivity, strengthen industry, improve energy security, and increase economic growth. It is also vital that countries build the infrastructure to develop and deploy the energy systems of the future. Abundant energy is the backbone of a booming economy and the foundation of enduring prosperity," the statement said.
In a statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting, the US G20 presidency said ministers has held "candid discussions" on the priorities but did not announce a common position on the major issues.
Rubio said participants recognized the importance of securing international waterways, strengthening critical mineral supply chains and safeguarding food security, but remained divided over how to address the challenges.
"I wouldn't pretend to you today that we are close to finding universally accepted solutions to these problems," Rubio told reporters at a closing news conference.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu told the meeting that the international situation is undergoing profound changes, with rising geopolitical tensions and a serious lag in global development efforts.
Ma said China's Global Security Initiative, which advocates common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, has contributed to resolving international and regional disputes.
He urged G20 members to take greater responsibility for safeguarding international peace and stability, easing regional tensions and addressing the root causes of conflicts.
China also supported stronger G20 cooperation on energy security and sustainable development, including improving energy affordability, promoting changes in energy structures and strengthening global energy governance, Ma said.
He called on members to take concrete measures to maintain stable and uninterrupted global industrial and supply chains.
The US statement placed particular emphasis on affordable and abundant energy, arguing that access to reliable energy was essential for economic growth, industrial competitiveness and higher living standards.
It also called for greater private-sector investment in critical minerals, including processing, refining and recycling, as well as improved transparency and more predictable regulatory frameworks.
The statement said countries should be free to determine their own energy mix, including whether to pursue nuclear power, while highlighting the potential contribution of small modular reactors and other emerging technologies to meeting electricity demand.
It also raised concerns about the use of food and agricultural trade as a tool of political or economic coercion, calling for international agreement against such practices.
Despite the US presidency's focus on economic cooperation, discussions were overshadowed by disagreements over the Ukraine conflict, the U.S.-Iran confrontation and Washington's tariff policies.
The conflicts have added to concerns about rising fuel costs, disruptions to international shipping and uncertainty in global trade. Participants also expressed concern about the risk of further military escalation between Washington and Tehran.
Diplomatic tensions were also evident during the meeting's proceedings. The United States abruptly canceled the traditional group photograph on the opening day, reportedly after several European countries, Australia and Canada objected to appearing alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Washington's decision not to invite South Africa, a G20 member that held the group's rotating presidency in 2025, also drew criticism and highlighted divisions over the composition and functioning of the forum.
The U.S. statement said the presidency had sought to return the G20 to its core mandate of addressing global economic challenges and promoting prosperity.
Ministers also discussed international cooperation against Ebola, with the US presidency citing $2 billion raised at a September fundraising event in New York to support the response to the outbreak.
The meeting was held in Atlanta during the 250th anniversary year of U.S. independence.
US President Donald Trump is scheduled to host the G20 leaders' summit in Miami, Florida, in December. He has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin, although Rubio said on Saturday that Moscow had not yet confirmed whether Putin would attend.The United Kingdom is due to assume the G20 presidency in 2027.UNI AAB
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