G20 leaders go soft on terror, human rights in Rio de Janeiro summit

G20 leaders have called for ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon without condemning Hamas or Hezbollah, as the annual summit failed to land consensus across key flashpoint issues.

French President Emmanuel Macron, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and US President Joe Biden at the G20 Leaders' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro. Picture: AFP

G20 leaders have called for ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon without condemning Hamas, Hezbollah or the October 7 terror attack, as the annual economic and security summit failed to land consensus in its 22-page communique across key flashpoint issues.

The Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration refers to “climate” 30 times – including 18 mentions of “climate change” – compared with four citations of “human rights” and only single references to terrorism, Ukraine and nuclear weapons.

With China, Russia, Saudi ­Arabia and others vetoing resolutions on contentious issues that run counter to their agendas, the leaders’ declaration was one of the weakest in recent G20 history.

After Donald Trump’s election win, US President Joe Biden played a diminished role at the G20 and APEC summits in Brazil and Peru.

Amid fears of a US-China trade war, Chinese President Xi Jinping filled the void and used the South American summits to rally support from middle powers, including Australia.

As Russia threatens a potential nuclear response in retaliation to Kyiv’s US-backed missile strikes, the G20 statement omitted any mention of Russia and brief, ambiguous language around “human suffering” in Ukraine.

In contrast, the statement affirmed the “Palestinian right to self-determination” and called for immediate ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon but did not call for a release of Israeli hostages.

“While expressing our deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the escalation in Lebanon, we emphasise the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance and to reinforce the protection of civilians and demand the lifting of all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale,” the G20 leaders’ statement said.

“We highlight the human suffering and negative impacts of the war. Affirming 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 recognised 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.”

Anthony Albanese during a working session as part of the G20 summit. Picture: Getty Images

Despite Anthony Albanese joining Joe Biden and Keir Starmer in strongly condemning Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the G20 statement features one reference to the war-torn country.

“Specifically concerning the war in Ukraine, while recalling our discussions in New Delhi, we highlight the human suffering and negative added impacts of the war with regard to global food and energy security, supply chains, macro-financial stability, inflation and growth.

“We welcome all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a comprehensive, just, and durable peace, upholding all the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter for the promotion of peaceful, friendly and good neighbourly relations among nations.”

On climate change, UN Climate Change executive secretary Simon Stiell said: “G20 leaders have sent a clear message to their negotiators at COP29: do not leave Baku without a successful new finance goal. This is in every country’s clear interests.

“Leaders have reinforced that global co-operation is utterly essential, and COP29 must show how it’s done, with an ambitious new finance goal, as the central pillar of a balanced package.

“Stronger new national climate plans are also essential, as the G20 leaders note, to move much faster to a clean-energy and climate-resilient global economy right now.”

The Prime Minister, who delivered a climate and clean energy speech during the final G20 leaders’ session, on Wednesday (AEDT) caught up with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their second annual leaders’ meeting. Mr Albanese’s final bilateral meeting before jetting home to Australia was reserved for Mr Modi, who he has now met in-person 10 times.

In a joint statement, Mr Modi and Mr Albanese committed to building on the 2022 Australia-India economic co-operation and trade agreement while working towards “an ambitious, balanced and mutually beneficial Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreement”.

Mr Modi and Mr Albanese also “observed that ‘Make in India’ and ‘Future Made in Australia’ have complementarity and collaborative potential and could help create new jobs, unlock economic growth and secure our future prosperity in a changing world”. The leaders, who are both members of the Quad, which includes the US and Japan, expressed “intent to renew and strengthen the Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Co-operation in 2025”.

Ahead of flying back to Australia and attending parliament on Thursday, Mr Albanese welcomed the G20 communique and commitments from world leaders to ramp-up action on climate change and ease cost-of-living pressures and global inflation.