Atlanta G20 Ends Without Joint Text After Diplomatic Rifts

Foreign ministers from the Group of 20 economies will close their two-day Atlanta meeting on Saturday without a joint communiqué, a departure from past summits caused by disagreements over Russia's war in Ukraine and other security matters. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will instead issue a chairman's statement that summarizes the discussions.

Rubio opened the gathering with a call for unity but canceled the traditional group photograph on Friday after European diplomats objected to the presence of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The European contingent had threatened to boycott or walk out of the picture, which usually opens such meetings.

Poland's foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, attending his first G20 meeting as a guest, said Friday he was not surprised consensus failed. "We have wars going on, and we have participants in those wars around the table, so it's very difficult to agree on a common line," he told reporters.

Diplomats who attended the closed-door sessions, speaking on condition they were not named, said a chairman's statement had been the plan given the depth of disagreement among participants. The divisions cover the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, U.S. tariffs, and Chinese activity in the South China Sea, all of which have pushed fuel costs higher and added uncertainty to trade.

Those diplomats said the opening session proceeded without incident but Russia's stance on Ukraine remains fixed, as does Moscow's objection to Poland joining the G20. Disagreements also include the Trump administration's decision not to invite South Africa, a G20 member, over objections from other participants.

Some G20 members had already questioned the U.S. decision to invite Russia while Moscow intensifies attacks on Ukraine. The invitation came after President Donald Trump waived new sanctions on Moscow and temporarily limited logistical and intelligence assistance to Kyiv. The State Department said Friday it approved a proposed $2.1 billion sale of Patriot air defense interceptors for Ukraine.

Lavrov said Russia will not permit a situation where Ukraine poses a "military threat to legitimate security interests of the Russian Federation." He has traveled rarely to NATO member states since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and it remains unclear whether President Vladimir Putin will accept Trump's invitation to the G20 leaders summit at his Miami golf club in December.

The U.S. has listed resolving differences over freedom of navigation as a top priority for the meeting, covering the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, the Black Sea, and the South China Sea. The talks also address Iran, Russia-Ukraine, and China's relations with neighboring countries. Rubio met on the sidelines with Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, whose country has acted as a mediator.

American officials have told several Middle East countries and regional allies to prepare for possible renewed military strikes against Iran after Tuesday's midterm elections, along with the chance Iran could retaliate. Participants in the Atlanta talks said they would work to make next month's G20 leaders summit, hosted by Trump in Florida, a success.