The 2024 G20 Rio de Janeiro summit (Portuguese: Cúpula do G20 Rio de Janeiro 2024) was the nineteenth meeting of Group of Twenty (G20), a Heads of State and Government meeting held at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro from 18 to 19 November 2024. It was the first G20 summit to be hosted in Brazil. Additionally, It marked the first full G20 summit with the African Union as a member, following its inclusion during the previous summit in 2023.
Presidency
The Brazilian presidency officially started on 1 December 2023, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as chair, under its theme being Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet.
Agenda priorities
G20 Brazil set three main agenda priorities for the G20 dialogue in 2024:
- Social inclusion and the fight against hunger
- Energy transition and sustainable development in its social, economic and environmental aspects
- Reform of the global governance institutions
Addressing the G20 countries in India on 10 September 2023, Lula announced the creation of the Global Mobilization Against Climate Change working group, aimed at generating income and reduce inequalities for the people affected by climate change. Another focus of the Brazilian presidency was advocating for comprehensive reform of global institutions, such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organization, in addition to the reforming the United Nations Security Council to enhance the representation and influence of the Global South on the world stage.
The Brazilian presidency launched the G20 Social, space where for the first time, the organization will bring the civil society into the debate where it can participate and contribute to discussions and policy formulations regarding to the summit.
Treaty against hunger and poverty
On 24 July 2024, the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty multilateral treaty was drafted by the federal government of Brazil, with the G20 countries and international organizations, to support and accelerate efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty, while reducing inequalities. The ratification by all parties is expected for November 2024 during the leaders summit.
Preparations
The government of Brazil budgeted R$ 300 million (US$60 million) for the G20 events in 15 cities. For the security of the foreign ministers event in February 21–22, the government has deployed 1,200 security personnel of the Armed Forces and the Federal Police. The Museum of Modern Art in Rio, housing sixteen thousand works of art, the main venue of the summit, underwent an extensive renovation and restoration, budgeted in R$ 40 million (US$7.6 million).
In April, the Police of Rio de Janeiro simulated a terrorist attack against the Christ the Redeemer statue as part of an exercise in preparation for the leaders summit. The Santos Dumont Airport will be closed for the leaders summit, and an aerial exclusion zone will be implemented by the Brazilian Air Force. For the leaders summit, the government has deployed 20,000 security personnel of the Armed Forces and National Force together with eight intelligence centers.
Issues
Russia and Ukraine
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for war crimes against Russian president Vladimir Putin. On 9 September 2023, Lula stated that Putin "can attend next year's G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro without fear", adding that "if I'm Brazil's president, and if he comes to Brazil, there's no reason he'll be arrested". His chief foreign policy advisor, Celso Amorim, later confirmed the government's intention to invite Putin to the summit. However, in December 2023, Lula said that Putin could be arrested in Brazil, but that would be decided by Brazil's independent courts, not his government.
On 18 October 2024, President Vladimir Putin announced that he will not go to the summit, "my possible visit would wreck the group's work", stated Putin.
Other issues
Dialogue on the rising of global temperatures and the principles of the digital economy were among themes of the agenda. The Brazilian presidency also prioritised discussions on the Gaza war and growing bloc confrontation between the United States and China.
Work at the summit was also directed to promoting global debt reform.
During a speech about fake news, Rosângela Lula da Silva, first lady of Brazil, swore at Elon Musk, saying: "I'm not afraid of you. Fuck you, Elon Musk" (Eu não tenho medo de você. Inclusive, fuck you, Elon Musk, in Portuguese). Hours later, he wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "They're going to lose the elections soon", responding to a post with Janja's video.