World leaders gather in Bali for fraught G20 summit overshadowed by Ukraine war

[NUSA DUA, BALI] Leaders from the Group of 20 (G20) – a group of the world’s major developed and emerging economies that make up over 80 per cent of global gross domestic product and 75 per cent of total trade – are gathering on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Tuesday (Nov 15) and Wednesday for a summit overshadowed by geopolitical tensions and a looming economic recession.

The ongoing Russia-led war in Ukraine and its fallout will undoubtedly dominate the discussions, as well as at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bangkok later this week. There are many other pressing issues on the G20 agenda in Bali, including climate change, food security, and rising tensions over the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea and North Korea.

The G20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union. Spain is the grouping’s permanent guest country.

All but three of the leaders will be present – the absent trio are Russian President Vladimir Putin, Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro and Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Putin has sent his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in his place, and the latter – who was received by a guard of honour and traditional dancers when he touched down on Sunday evening – is expected to face a barrage of criticism over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the threat to use nuclear weapons in the conflict.

Ukraine is not a G20 member but is attending the summit as an observer. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected to address his fellow world leaders virtually.

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Indonesia, which holds the rotating presidency of the grouping this year, will lead discussions on “stronger and more resilient post-pandemic global recovery” under the theme “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”, said Singapore’s Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in a statement on Monday.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will attend the summit at the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Singapore is also not a member of the G20, but the country has once again been invited by the host nation to participate in the meetings.

Besides Spain and Ukraine, the other invited countries include Cambodia (in its capacity as the current Asean chair), the Netherlands, Senegal and the United Arab Emirates.

Indonesia has invited a number of international organisations to send representatives to Bali, among them the Asian Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations.

In its statement, Singapore’s PMO said PM Lee will participate in discussions on food and energy security, health, and digital transformation at the G20 Summit. He will also have several bilateral meetings with other leaders on the sidelines of the event.

In Bali, PM Lee is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and senior officials from their respective ministries. While PM Lee is away, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean will be the Acting Prime Minister.

On Monday, Widodo, who met several leaders including US President Joe Biden, expressed his wish that the G20 Summit could result in concrete cooperation.

“I hope that this G20 Summit will be able to produce concrete cooperation that can help the world in global economic recovery,” he said, adding that he called on all the G20 nations to be flexible in order to achieve the goals.

That said, it’s still anyone’s guess if the leaders can agree on a final joint communique – a statement that is typically issued at the end – given how the international community remains divided over the Ukraine war. The more likely outcome is Indonesia issuing a chair’s statement instead.

“Honestly, I think the global situation has never been this complex,” said Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan on Sunday. “If eventually (the G20) leaders do not produce a communique, that’s that, it’s ok.”

On Wednesday afternoon at the end of the summit, Indonesia will hand the G20 baton to India, with Prime Minister Narenda Modi taking on the leadership of the bloc in 2023. Brazil will be the chair in 2024, and it will be South Africa’s turn in 2025.