Welcome
Trip by Foreign Minister Baerbock to the G20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro and the United Nations in New York
Foreign Minister Analena Baerbock talking to the UN General Assembly, © Kira Hofmann/photothek.de
On 21-22 February, the G20 Foreign Ministers are meeting in Rio de Janeiro. Afterwards Annalena Baerbock will travel on to New York, where the second anniversary of the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine will be on the United Nations agenda. Read on to find out more about the trip.
Brazil holds the G20 Presidency this year. Under the motto “Building a just world and a sustainable planet”, Brazil is focusing its Presidency on the fight against inequality as well as on sustainable development, thus also turning the spotlight on climate and environmental issues. Brazil also wants to give developing countries and emerging economies a stronger voice.
G20: Central platform for global challenges
The G20 brings together industrialised nations and emerging economies that account for more than 80% of global GDP, some three-quarters of global trade and around two-thirds of the world’s population. Alongside the 19 largest industrialised nations and emerging economies, the EU also has a seat at the table. In Rio, the African Union will be participating as a permanent member for the very first time. The German Government, among others, championed the African Union’s membership. For given its weight and strategic importance, the G20 plays a significant role when it comes to setting the direction for future geopolitical decisions and global economic issues.
At the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Rio de Janeiro on 21 and 22 February, the focus will be on pressing issues concerning how we make our economies and our global financial structures fit in order to contain climate change or the global hunger and debt crisis, as well as the acute crises in this world, such as in the Middle East.
Prior to her departure for Rio de Janeiro, Foreign Minister Baerbock stated:
Brazil has put the fight against inequality firmly on the agenda during its G20 Presidency. In times when acute crises are keeping us on alert day after day, it could not be more urgent to bring the major global issues – the fight against poverty, injustice and the climate crisis – from the back pages of newspapers to the front page.
Brazil has put the fight against inequality firmly on the agenda during its G20 Presidency. In times when acute crises are keeping us on alert day after day, it could not be more urgent to bring the major global issues – the fight against poverty, injustice and the climate crisis – from the back pages of newspapers to the front page.
Putin continues to inflict immeasurable suffering on Ukraine, quite literally holding a gun to the heads of its people. If he thought that the world would at some point, after two years, forget who bears responsibility for the war in Ukraine and its drastic global repercussions, he was wrong. We will never abandon the fundamental principles of the United Nations, and we will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine – for as long as it takes, until its people can once again live in peace and freedom.