The Group of 20 – consisting of 19 countries plus the European Union – represents almost two-thirds of the world’s population, 85% of global economic output and 75% of global trade. As of 2022, there are 20 members in the group: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States and European Union.
What are the key issues?
In addition to keynote speeches from world leaders, a host of bilateral talks will take place against a backdrop of global tensions that include the invasion of Ukraine and the resulting global economic fallout, the climate crisis, North Korea’s simmering nuclear program and China’s growing global ambitions. It is the largest gathering of the group of leaders since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and Indonesia – as the host country – has set an agenda focused on economic recovery from the pandemic, global health measures and sustainable energy.
What is the key meeting to attend?
While not strictly a G20 meeting, Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, will meet in Bali on Monday afternoon for their first face-to-face meeting as leaders. Biden – who now has much more political capital following the results of the US mid-term elections – has said he will seek to draw red lines in the US-China relationship that allow for competition and coexistence. It is also expected to warn of an invasion of Taiwan and efforts to restrict shipping in the South China Sea. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden would be “absolutely straight and direct” with Xi and expected the same in return. Officials say it will push China to rein in ally North Korea after a record-breaking wave of missile tests sparked fears Pyongyang could soon conduct its seventh nuclear test. Xi may be in no mood to help. He enters the meeting benefiting from recently securing a landmark third term in power, making him the most powerful Chinese leader in generations.
Who else is going?
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is also in Bali, where he faces his first major diplomatic test. He is expected to focus directly on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and emphasize support for Kyiv. “We will call out the Putin regime and expose their utter contempt for the kind of international cooperation and respect for sovereignty that forums like the G20 represent,” Sunak said in a statement on Saturday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been invited to speak virtually at the summit. Biden and Sunak will meet face-to-face for the first time at the G20 on Wednesday as US diplomats stepped up their push for an agreement on the Northern Ireland Protocol by the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement next year. Biden has indicated he will visit Northern Ireland for the anniversary and has long been keen to protect the deal. The British prime minister is also scheduled to meet privately with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Other world leaders attending are Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Embrad and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Jair Bolosonaro, the outgoing president of Brazil, will not attend. The EU will be represented by Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel.
Are we going to take an awkward group photo this year?
No, there will be no official “family photo” of world leaders when they meet because of widespread unease over Russia’s presence at the summit.
