Key facts
- G20 foreign ministers meeting in Atlanta from Oct. 30-31 is likely to be derailed by rifts over Ukraine and Middle East wars.
- US seeks to focus on trade imbalances and countering China's critical mineral dominance.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is attending, adding to tensions.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is championing the Pax Silica initiative to address China's dominance in rare earths.
- Disagreements over US actions toward Russia, including a diesel deal and sanctions waivers, could impact discussions.
Foreign ministers from the world's 20 largest economies convened in Atlanta on October 30 for a two-day meeting expected to be derailed by deep divisions over the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. The US, holding the G20 presidency, aims to focus on trade imbalances and countering China's dominance in critical minerals, but the ongoing conflicts remain a top concern for many member nations. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is attending, adding to tensions, and even the traditional G20 family photo has become a point of contention. Experts noted a significant split among G20 members, with coordinated platforms becoming harder to achieve. The meeting also comes amid reports of potential new US attacks on Iran and ahead of the US midterm elections.