RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The G-20 summit held in Rio de Janeiro saw the United States facing criticism over its opposition to an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. The main issue of contention was Washington’s veto of a third resolution at the United Nations Security Council for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza earlier in the week, resulting in widespread disapproval from other world leaders.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, the host of the G-20 gathering, expressed his concern over the “paralysis” at the United Nations Security Council and the loss of innocent lives resulting from the state of inaction. The two-day meeting, attended by top diplomats from 20 of the world’s largest economies, was marked by candid discussions on various geopolitical issues that were not open to the media.
Despite the closed-door setting, a small group of journalists inadvertently overheard the session due to a technical error. The remarks made by Australia, a close ally of the United States, supporting an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and warning about the potential devastation from Israel’s military campaign in Rafah, added to the growing global disapproval surrounding the issue.
Similarly, South Africa accused Israel of carrying out a genocide in Gaza, reflecting the widespread dissatisfaction among world leaders over the ongoing conflict. The U.S.’s position on the crisis in Ukraine and Gaza was also scrutinized, highlighting the stark difference in the country’s global standing compared to the previous year.
The U.S. officials, however, remained committed to working towards the G-20’s goals of coordination on labor practices, climate change, and food security, despite the differences over Gaza. The meeting also involved a frank exchange between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who had been critical of the United States’ opposition to an immediate cease-fire.
Blinken and U.S. intelligence officials reiterated the country’s stance on not supporting an immediate cease-fire due to concerns about leaving Hamas in place to repeat attacks against Israel. These discussions revealed the complexities and nuances of the diplomatic relations between the U.S. and other global leaders, shedding light on the challenging dynamics at play during the G-20 summit.