Diplomats from the Group of 20 countries were haggling hard over a final summit statement on Friday, with deep divisions over what language to use on the Paris climate accord and the World Trade Organisation, according to two European officials involved in the discussions.
Facing the prospect of a no-statement summit, European delegations were trying to create a common front and may come out with their own separate declaration if they can’t get the US or others on board. European leaders were meeting in the morning at the summit venue in the Argentine capital to stake out common positions on trade, climate and the killing of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
France is seeking to build coalitions on certain issues or “ad hoc partnerships” to try to salvage the spirit of the G-20 even if all countries can’t agree, according to a French official.
The officials weren’t authorised to be named speaking about the closed-door discussions and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The G-20 was supposed to focus on issues like development, infrastructure and investment, but as the gathering officially kicked off, those themes seem like afterthoughts, overshadowed by contentious matters from the US-China trade dispute to the conflict over Ukraine.
European Council President Donald Tusk urged G-20 leaders to discuss “trade wars, the tragic situation in Syria and Yemen and Russian aggression in Ukraine.”
He said the European Union is expected to extend sanctions on Moscow over its “totally unacceptable” seizure of Ukrainian ships and their crews near Crimea.
“Europe is united in its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Tusk said, calling the standoff “a cause of great concern.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who arrived in Buenos Aires on Friday morning, is among the leaders involved.
Russia and Ukraine have traded blame over the ship incident.
Also expected to loom large amid dozens of bilateral meetings in Buenos Aires: the gruesome slaying of Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia’s Istanbul consulate and how the Saudi crown prince, who is alleged to have ordered the killing, is received by world leaders.
He didn’t mention the killing itself, but stressed the importance of the “basic safety of journalists” and said “it’s our obligation to press our partners to respect these basic principles.”
Saudi Arabia has denied that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman played a role, but some leaders may be cool toward him to avoid seeming to legitimize a man who US intelligence agencies concluded ordered the killing.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has made clear it does not want to torpedo the longstanding US relationship with Riyadh, however. It is the prince’s first significant appearance overseas since the killing.