Rubio hosts G20 ministers as Iran, Ukraine wars divide members
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host his G20 counterparts, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in Atlanta on Friday for talks expected to be marked by divisions over the wars in Ukraine and Iran and soaring energy prices.
The meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, comes just days before crucial US midterm elections and will help set the stage for a December G20 leaders' summit in Miami, to be hosted at US President Donald Trump's Doral resort.
Few major breakthroughs are expected from the gathering of the Group of 20 economies, which include China, India, Russia, Japan, Germany and France, as divisions persist over Moscow's war in Ukraine and the economic fallout from the conflict with Iran.
Russia has been largely shunned by Western countries since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, while Lavrov remains under international sanctions.
His meeting with Rubio will be closely watched as Washington pursues diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine while seeking Moscow's cooperation to curb fuel prices, a key issue ahead of the midterm elections.
“The G20 is no longer really a forum where foreign ministers can reach agreement on a statement,” a diplomatic source said.
The source said Washington intended the Miami summit to serve “more as a demonstration of American power — and of US commitments to growth, deregulation, trade and business — rather than as a summit with grand ambitions on substantive issues”.
Instead of a joint declaration, the United States is expected to issue a chair's summary of this week's meeting.
The Trump administration, which will hand over the rotating G20 presidency to Britain, believes the grouping has moved away from its core mission.
Washington has pledged to refocus the forum on promoting economic growth, arguing that security and economic prosperity are “inextricably linked”.
“Conversations in Atlanta will provide an opportunity to discuss energy and supply chain challenges as well as identify ways to collectively address the impact of geopolitical tensions on economic security,” a US State Department official said.
The official stressed the importance of access to energy, particularly for technologies such as artificial intelligence, and highlighted a shared commitment to addressing urgent crises and keeping critical shipping lanes open to commerce without threats or tolls.
Energy security and freedom of navigation
Global energy prices have surged since US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February prompted Tehran to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and gas shipments.
“This is the last test case the G20 has, at least under the US G20 presidency, until Miami,” Alisha Chhangani of the Atlantic Council told AFP, saying the outcome would influence the December summit.
She said Washington would likely seek to establish that security crises also have direct economic consequences.
The United States is expected to push for agreement on the meaning of “freedom of navigation” in the Strait of Hormuz and other international waterways.
However, the effort could face resistance from China, which opposed language on freedom of navigation in the strait and globally at an earlier meeting of finance ministers.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will not attend the Atlanta meeting. Beijing is instead sending his deputy, according to the US State Department.
Meanwhile, concerns are growing over a further escalation in the Middle East, with Israel threatening to strike Iran and Trump signalling that he could launch an attack after Tuesday's midterm elections.
Lavrov's presence adds to tensions
Rubio is also expected to meet Lavrov in Atlanta, where the Russian foreign minister has already arrived, according to Russian state media.
The meeting comes ahead of fresh negotiations involving Moscow, Kyiv and Washington scheduled for November.
Lavrov is expected to oppose international sanctions against Russia at the gathering. His presence is likely to frustrate European foreign ministers, Chhangani said.
Washington's decision to welcome Russian officials to this year's G20 events is not unprecedented, although it has excluded fellow member South Africa. Trump has also invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to the December summit in Miami.
Trump has recently eased some sanctions on Moscow while promoting a deal that would allow Russia to sell diesel as rising fuel prices put pressure on American consumers.
The diplomatic source stressed that Russia's participation in the G20 “in no way legitimises its actions”.
Attention will also be on Washington's engagement with Brazil, whose foreign minister is due to attend, after the United States granted entry to Flavio Bolsonaro following his defeat in Sunday's presidential election.