NUSA DUA, Indonesia (Reuters) – G20 finance ministers reached “strong consensus” on issues including global food security at a two-day meeting in Indonesia, but remained divided on the Russia’s war in Ukraine.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the differences had prevented leaders from issuing an official statement or joint statement, but the group agreed on the need to address a food security crisis. which is getting worse.
Western countries have imposed tough sanctions on Russia and accused it of war crimes in Ukraine, which Moscow has denied. Other G20 countries, including China, India and South Africa, have been more muted in their response.
“It’s a difficult time because Russia is part of the G20 and doesn’t agree with us on how to characterize the war,” said Janet Yellen.
But analysts point out that the inability to agree on a communiqué reflected the powerlessness of the G20.
Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani hoped delegates at this week’s meeting could jointly address rising commodity prices, the escalating food security crisis and the ripple effects on countries’ capacity low income paying off their debt.
Western countries, concerned about China’s credit situation in China, were pressuring the country to restructure debt contracts and transform its role into “one that (contributes) to the country rather than a role of indebtedness and bondage,” the US ambassador to Japan said. Rahm Emmanuel.
(Report Andrea Shalal and Fransiska Nangoy, with contributions from Stefanno Sulaiman and Leigh Thomas; French version Camille Raynaud)