British Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping of China, at the Sheraton Hotel, as he attends the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 18, 2024. Stefan Rousseau/Pool via REUTERS 

Lula Launches Global Alliance Against Poverty as G20 Tackles Divisive Issues

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva opened the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Rio de Janeiro with the launch of a global alliance to combat poverty and hunger, garnering support from over 80 countries, international organizations, and philanthropies. The summit, held at Rio’s Modern Art Museum, has highlighted global challenges such as climate change, economic inequality, and the escalating wars in Ukraine and Gaza, alongside geopolitical tensions with the anticipated return of Donald Trump to the White House.

A Global Alliance to Combat Hunger

In his opening address, Lula called for a unified global response to eradicate poverty and hunger, emphasizing that these issues stem from political decisions rather than scarcity. He cited the world’s production of nearly 6 billion tons of food annually as evidence that hunger is not inevitable but unacceptable.

The alliance, backed by the African Union, European Union, development banks, and philanthropic organizations such as the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to coordinate efforts to address these systemic issues.

“Hunger and poverty are not the result of scarcity or natural phenomena… they are the product of political decisions,” Lula stated, drawing on his own experiences of growing up in poverty.

Tensions Over Ukraine and Other Global Conflicts

Diplomatic efforts to produce a joint G20 statement have been strained by disagreements over the war in Ukraine. European delegates pushed for stronger language condemning the conflict after a massive Russian airstrike on Ukraine occurred on Sunday.

Adding to tensions, the United States recently removed restrictions on Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied weapons for strikes deep into Russian territory, a move criticized by Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend the summit, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov representing Moscow.

Changing Priorities with U.S. Leadership

As President Joe Biden approaches the end of his term, his presence at the summit carries limited political weight. Nonetheless, Biden announced plans to replenish the World Bank’s International Development Association fund, which supports the world’s poorest countries, and to establish a bilateral clean energy partnership with Brazil.

However, the anticipated return of Donald Trump to the White House is likely to disrupt the current G20 agenda. Trump’s proposed trade policies, including tariffs on Chinese imports, could escalate the U.S.-China trade war. His administration’s tax-cutting priorities are also expected to clash with Lula’s push to tax the super-rich, a key item on Brazil’s G20 agenda.

China’s Role and Relations with Brazil

Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized China’s support for the Global South and development through his Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). While Brazil has not joined the BRI, Xi’s state visit to Brasília later this week is expected to focus on strengthening industrial partnerships.

Li Xing, a professor at the Guangdong Institute for International Strategies, expressed China’s disappointment with Brazil’s decision not to join the initiative, calling it “a big blow to relations.”

Security and Summit Challenges

The summit convened under heightened security following an incident where Brazilian army patrols came under gunfire near the Cidade de Deus community in Rio. No injuries were reported, but the event underscored the challenges of hosting a major global gathering in a city with complex security issues.