Brazil’s G20 summit puts Global South agenda center stage

This year’s Group of 20 summit kicks off on Monday in Rio de Janeiro, with rotating host Brazil promising to drive climate solutions and reforms of international institutions amid widening economic disparities and an increasingly fragmented world order.

Leaders including outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are gathering in the city known for sandy beaches set against lush green mountains. Looming over the proceedings will be the impending return of Donald Trump to the White House and raging global conflicts, particularly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Moscow sending a delegation to Rio led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.