U.S. Opposition to Gaza Cease-Fire Criticized at G-20 Meeting
The recent G-20 meeting held in Rio de Janeiro saw the U.S. facing criticism for its opposition to an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. The meeting, hosted by Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, highlighted the growing isolation of the United States on this issue. The meeting began with Vieira expressing his disappointment with the “paralysis” at the United Nations Security Council, where the U.S. vetoed a resolution for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. He emphasized that this inaction is resulting in the loss of innocent lives.
During the closed-door session, which was accidentally broadcasted to a small group of journalists, diplomats from various countries expressed their views on geopolitical issues. Australia, a close ally of the U.S., supported an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and warned about the potential devastation caused by Israel’s military campaign in Rafah. Australia’s representative, Katy Gallagher, urged Israel not to pursue this path, calling it unjustifiable.
South Africa, which has accused Israel of carrying out a genocide in Gaza, also criticized world leaders for allowing impunity to hold sway. Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s minister of international relations and cooperation, stated that they have failed the people of Palestine. These remarks created a sharp contrast with the previous year’s G-20 gathering in India, where Secretary of State Antony Blinken sought to unite world powers in condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In Brazil, diplomats invoked the same principles of sovereignty and the United Nations Charter to criticize the ongoing war in Gaza.
Blinken, however, maintained that despite disagreements on an immediate cease-fire, the G-20 was largely united in their goals for the conflict. He stated that everyone supports trying to reach a hostage agreement, an extended humanitarian ceasefire, and finding a way to end the conflict. While there may be differences in tactics, the focus is on getting results.
Analysts noted the stark contrast in the U.S.’s global standing from one year to the next. Richard Gowan, an expert on multilateral affairs, highlighted that a year ago, the U.S. had Russia on the back foot over Ukraine. Now, the Biden administration appears to be losing its grip on events in Ukraine and Gaza, which could potentially impact the November elections.
Argentina, however, provided a rare reprieve for the United States among Latin American countries. Argentina’s representative condemned the terrorist acts of Hamas and demanded the unconditional release of hostages while acknowledging the humanitarian disaster caused by the conflict.
Despite the differences over Gaza, U.S. officials remained focused on working towards Brazil’s goals for the G-20, including labor practices, climate change, and food security. However, comments made by Brazil’s president comparing the killing of Palestinians in Gaza to the genocide of Jews during World War II posed another obstacle. Blinken made it clear during his meeting with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that the U.S. disagreed with those comments.
Lula, as the president of Latin America’s most populous country and host of the G-20, has taken on a significant role as a voice of the developing world regarding the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. In both cases, he criticized Washington’s opposition to an immediate cease-fire. Blinken conveyed U.S. efforts to broker a deal between Hamas and Israel that would lead to a humanitarian pause in fighting and an increase in humanitarian aid.
The G-20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro showcased the growing criticism of the U.S.’s opposition to an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. While there were differences among diplomats, the focus remained on finding a way to end the conflict and mitigate the humanitarian crisis. The U.S. faced challenges in maintaining its global standing and navigating its relationships with allies and developing nations alike.
