The summit of the Group of 20 leading economies in Rio de Janeiro produced a joint declaration on Monday that, while not totally endorsed by one of the group's members, succeeded in addressing most topics host Brazil had prioritised addressing -- both ongoing major wars, a global pact to fight hunger, taxation of the world's wealthiest people and changes to global governance. Experts had doubted Brazil 's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva could convince assembled leaders to hammer out agreement given uncertainty about the incoming administration of US President-elect Donald Trump and heightened global tensions amid the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Further dimming prospects of consensus, Argentina's negotiators challenged some of the draft language -- and ultimately refrained from endorsing the complete document.
"Although generic, it is a positive surprise for Brazil," said Thomas Traumann, an independent political consultant and former Brazilian minister. "There was a moment when there was risk of no declaration at all. Despite the caveats, it is a good result for Lula.
" Condemnation of wars, calls for peace, but without casting blame Militant group Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel occurred one month after last year's G20 Summit. It was thus unclear how this year's statement might address Israel's campaign of retaliation, which has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health officials, and more than 3,500 people in Lebanon in Isr.
