RIO DE JANEIRO – Twenty-two pages to reiterate, in 85 points, the commitment “to building a just world and a sustainable planet, while leaving no one behind” …maybe even taxing the super-rich properly. The final declaration adopted by the leaders of the G20, which concluded today in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, arrived after a difficult mediation between the diplomacies of such different countries and often with such distant positions (ranging from the USA to Russia via Argentina, India and China, to name a few). A mediation carried out by the Brazilian presidency which made everyone agree at least on the global alliance against fame and poverty, the Task Force on global mobilization against climate change and the call to action on governance reform global. 

As regards wars, the G20 countries welcome all relevant and constructive initiatives that support global, just and lasting peace, supporting all the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter for the Promotion of peaceful, friendly and good-neighbourly relations between Nations.

As for the Middle East, the “big” twenty affirm “the Palestinian right to self-determination. we reiterate our unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-State solution where Israel and a Palestinian State live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions. We are united in support for a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza in line with UN Security Council Resolution n. 2735 and in Lebanon that enables citizens to return safely to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line”.

About the environment, according to the G20 leaders, there is no stringent commitment on resources to support developing countries to tackle climate change and the text generally recognizes the need to catalyze and increase investments from all sources and channels to fill the financing gap for energy transitions at a global level, especially in developing countries which must be supported in their transition towards low carbon emissions, with the commitment to facilitate financing for low cost for them.

The G20 final declaration also reiterated the need to broaden the taxpayer base to include some of the wealthier developing countries, such as China and the oil producers of the Middle East.

And speaking of “taxpayers”, in the document it is hypothesized – in point number 20 – a tax for the super-rich. “With full respect to tax sovereignty, we will seek to engage cooperatively to ensure that ultra-high-net-worth individuals are effectively taxed” reads the statement from the G20 leaders. “Cooperation could involve exchanging best practices, encouraging debates around tax principles, and devising antiavoidance mechanisms, including addressing potentially harmful tax practices. We look forward to continuing to discuss these issues in the G20 and other relevant forums, counting on the technical inputs of relevant international organizations, academia, and experts. We encourage the Inclusive Framework on BEPS (IF) to consider working on these issues in the context of effective progressive tax policies”.

The final declaration also talks about a new entry in the G20: “We welcome the African Union as a full member of the G20. Africa’s voice should be amplified in the G20 and all other international fora” (forums, ed).

“We remain resolute in our commitment to fighting hunger, poverty, and inequality, promoting sustainable development in its economic, social, and environmental dimensions, and reforming global governance” we finally read in the last paragraph, which closes thus: “We welcome Saudi Arabia’s ambition to advance its turn for hosting the G20 Presidency in the next cycle. We thank Brazil for its leadership this year and look forward to working together in 2025 under South Africa’s Presidency and meeting again in the United States in 2026”.

In the pics above, one of the sessions and the final photo at the end of the last session of G20 (photo from www.governo.it)

To download and/or read the full text of the final declaration of the G20 in Brazil, click here: G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders Declaration FINAL

Trudeau promises raining millions, Meloni makes agreements with India and the World Bank

RIO DE JANEIRO – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau concluded his participation in the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during which he pledged Canada’s participation in two key global partnerships. Canada will be part of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, a key initiative under Brazil’s presidency of the G20. The initiative, which will bring together industry, government and development banks, will bring countries together more closely to tackle malnutrition, including against the rapidly growing threat of climate change to food insecurity. Canada will also play a key role in the Global Clean Power Alliance, a UK-led initiative that aims to boost global investment in clean energy and help countries transition away from fossil fuels.

During the summit, Trudeau participated in various G20 working sessions in which he advanced progress on global peace and security, with particular attention to Ukraine and the Middle East: he condemned the invasion of Ukraine by part of Russia, reiterating Canada’s “firm support” for the government and people of Ukraine. And then he reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to working with Brazil and other international allies and partners, including within the G7 and G20, to promote the security and stability of people around the world.

The Canadian Prime Minister then announced a “shower” of millions of dollars. Over 68 million in new investments, divided as follows: close to $24 million “to stop drug and human trafficking into Canada, strengthen multinational law enforcement capacity to prevent money laundering, bolster resources to respond to threats from organized crime and terrorists, increase collaboration with international security organizations, and enhance the capacities of international airports in Latin America and the Caribbean to deter and detect the shipment of illicit drugs”; over $25 million “to help restore global biodiversity, support measures to alleviate malnutrition, work with farmers in climate-stressed regions to support conservation efforts, and enhance food security in regions most affected”; over $19 million “to support women and girls in Latin America by preventing discrimination and violence, helping more women participate in conservation efforts and land and water resource management, and improving health services for at-risk women, including Indigenous women”.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had many commitments and bilateral meetings at the G20. With Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in particular, there was the fifth face-to-face meeting in two years. The last meeting was last June in Puglia (Italy) on the occasion of the G7, when Modi congratulated Meloni for leading the summit “in difficult times”. Following the meetings in Puglia, the two leaders reiterated their commitment to advance the India-Italy strategic partnership and announced a joint strategic action plan 2025-29 that outlines their vision for the next five years. The action plan will foster collaborations, programs and joint initiatives in key sectors such as trade and investment, science and technology, new and emerging technologies, clean energy, space, defence, connectivity and people-to-people relations.

Another important meeting for Meloni took place on the sidelines of the G20 work between the prime minister, accompanied by the Minister of Economy, Giancarlo Giorgetti, and the President of the World Bank Ajay Banga. The meeting, explains a note from Palazzo Chigi, “represented an opportunity to take stock” of the strengthened collaboration between Italy and the World Bank, inaugurated by the adoption of the declaration of intent on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Borgo Egnazia , with the aim of jointly implementing development initiatives in African nations in the key sectors of the Mattei Plan for Africa, such as energy, infrastructure, water and training”. For Meloni, during the G20, there were also meetings with Trudeau, Biden and Lula.

Biden: “It was great to meet with Trudeau and Meloni”

RIO DE JANEIRO – Many photos of the leaders during the G20 days in Brazil have been released on social networks.

American President Joe Biden, in particular, posted one portraying himself together with Justin Trudeau and Giorgia Meloni (here above, from Twitter X – @POTUS), writing: “It was great to meet with Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada and Prime Minister Meloni of Italy today at the G20. We will continue to strengthen our alliances to make the world a better, safer place”.

Meloni in turn posted a photo with the Indian president Modi (here below, from Twitter X – @GiorgiaMeloni) and, although she did not use the hashtag #melodi which in the past had sparked Indian social network users (who dream of a “love story” between the two leaders), her “tweet” obtained a million views and thousands of… romantic comments in just a few hours.