The G20 and the Brazilian diplomatic samba!

On November 19-20, the Summit of the 20 most economically developed countries of the world, or G20, took place in Rio, with the presence of the EU and the African Union. With an abundant thematic "menu", where the climate crisis, the conflict in the Middle East, Russian aggression in Ukraine, the fight against poverty and hunger, UN reform, etc. stood out. The summit was convened in a tumultuous atmosphere as Russian aggression against Ukraine enters its fourth year and the crisis in the Middle East only escalates with no signs of abating.

Meanwhile, in the EU and the USA, the new management teams are preparing to take the lead, and especially the president-elect Donald Trump, with many surprises, predictions and prophecies of the most diverse kind. It is worth noting that the G20 Summit was held in a large country like Brazil with about 215 million inhabitants, one of the most prosperous in Latin America and the biggest economic power in that region; a country that enjoys a rare harmony and balance in the world, the essence of whose foreign policy is summed up by the motto: "We can get along well with everyone". With this motto in the last three decades, Brazil has successfully appeared in the international arena with the so-called "samba diplomacy" of charm, which takes impulse from the emblematic dance with characteristic body movements full of temperament and human personality and above all with humor and radiant smile.

In fact, the samba originating in Rio, well-known all over the world, is much more than a dance; it is the hallmark and flagship of this great state, the embodiment of the Brazilian soul and spirit, of celebration and freedom of expression. It has helped to increase self-confidence and the desire to expand Brazil's influence further and globally. Precisely with this "samba", but now also diplomatic, in an increasingly polarized world, these last 25 years Brazil has appeared on the international stage with the main goal of understanding with each and everyone. For this purpose, at the beginning of the XXI century, the Brazilian government began to organize many large activities with a wide international profile, where all diplomatic dimensions were combined. The 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics were prominent here.

Meanwhile, classic Brazilian diplomacy itself was involved in many multilateral debates and discussions up to lobbying for permanent membership in the UNSC. Further, in 2009, Brazil together with India, Russia, China and South Africa shortly after founded the BRICS economic alliance, a sort of challenge to the G7, G20 and the West in general. This October, BRICS expanded at the Kazan Summit in Russia in October with three new members – Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and Iran. For a long time, BRICS was seen by some as an anti-Western alliance, a club of "de facto" autocrats and dictators; but this "doesn't add up", because there is Brazil, which in the 80s of the XNUMXth century overthrew the military dictatorship and today represents the largest democracy in South America. There are also India and South Africa, also democratic.

Also, Brazil is positioned as an intermediary between the so-called Global South, underdeveloped countries and the richest industrial ones. A generally comfortable diplomatic situation: in simpler words, while on the one hand Brazil does business with the US, this does not prevent it from doing massive trade with China while also taking care of good relations with Russia. It is true that Brazil, as a democratic country, has many differences in terms of Western values ​​and basic principles with Russia, China, Iran, but this does not affect their work as long as Brazil has many more common practical, economic and commercial interests with those countries.

Then, when it comes to values ​​and systems, he and other countries think that each country or group and each time and event has its own values ​​and alternatives; the key is good governance with benefits for the broad masses of the population, not ideology. Therefore, Brazil and many other countries have not condemned Russian aggression and continue regular economic and commercial relations with Moscow, so that there are no negative consequences for their economies due to the increase in prices and costs of products, the increase in poverty, etc. . It is known that Lula and his BRICS allies have been satisfied only with the proposal for peace between Russia and Ukraine, which was rejected by President Zelenski, who was not invited to the Summit. The initiator and promoter of the image of this new, self-aware and independent Brazil during the last 25 years is Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the former and current president of the country. The 79-year-old Lula won the presidential elections for the first time in 2002. His presidency coincided with a significant increase in the prices of energy products on world markets and Brazilian coffers were overflowing. At the height of Lula's political triumph in 2009, then US President Obama called him "the most admired politician in the world"! However, after that year, Lula's political decline began.

In 2017, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison for money laundering and corruption. This sentence was highly controversial and was eventually overturned. But it was too late to allow Lula to run for president again in the 2018 election, which was won by far-right Jair Bolsonaro. Under his presidency Brazil lost much of the weight of its diplomatic samba. But the situation changed again in 2022, when Lula won the next presidential election with the slogan "Brazil is back". However, the enthusiasm that his victory caused at home turned into coldness and disappointment abroad, especially for support for Ukraine and condemnation of Russian aggression. The first statesman to taste the bitter taste of Lula's return in this direction was German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. At the beginning of 2023, when Lula had just returned to the presidential office, Scholz flew full of hope to Brazil, with the assertion that he "missed Brazil and his beloved Lula very much"!

However, when during the meeting Scholz asked him to send weapons and ammunition to Kiev, Lula replied: "No, impossible, because Brazil is a country of peace and cannot even indirectly become part of the war in Europe." For President Lula, this statement was the re-entry into the Brazilian foreign policy that his country had followed for decades, while for Germany and the West it was a "door slam". In these conditions and circumstances, to return to the Summit in Rio, before the Brazilian hosts and President Lula, the major question was asked if he would be able to succeed this time with the Brazilian samba diplomacy? This was vital, as success in Rio would be great encouragement for the realization of future Brazilian geopolitical goals. In fact, the G20 Summit under Lula's presidency was the best occasion for a convincing response.

It is about a group that with two thirds of the world's population provides 80 percent of GDP and 75 percent of its trade. The challenge, responsibility and expectations especially towards President Lula were great due to many obstacles, delays and specific problems, starting from his participants, where the three "heaviest weights" of the G20 went to Rio very weakened. The American president in office, Joe Biden, was for the last time at this summit and now as a "lame duck", as a president who has lost the elections and therefore has no decision-making power is called. "Lame ducks" were German Chancellor Scholz with French President Macron: Scholz, after the collapse of the government coalition and the announcement of early elections on February 23, 2025, even amid debates about whether he should be a candidate for chancellor due to his popularity in historic lows of just 15 percent; while Macron, after two political disasters in the European elections in June and the national elections in July, is governing weakened at the top with a minority government at the mercy of the extreme left and right. Meanwhile, President Putin did not go to Rio because of the international arrest warrant that would have put him and the Brazilian hosts in difficult positions. He was represented by Foreign Minister Lavrov. Above all, it was a hot topic with problems that have been crying out for a solution for a long time.

However, to everyone's surprise, the Brazilian diplomatic samba was a success, even two or three times, without the slightest incident. More specifically, it was agreed, even on the evening of the first day of the summit, for the Joint Declaration, which has been a constant problem in the last three years. This is mainly due to the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the escalation of the crisis in the Middle East and due to the heterogeneous composition of the G20. The second important achievement was the full consensus on the need to reform the UN Security Council, so that it is "more representative, more efficient, more inclusive and democratic". This topic has been established for almost 25 years, with the aim of representing Africa, Asia and Latin America. Along with India, Japan and Germany, Brazil has been and remains a strong candidate. As for the war between Russia and Ukraine, as expected, consensus was minimal. Although this major aspect was mentioned in passing in the final statement, it did not condemn the Russian aggression. Instead of this distancing, the many advisers who worked through the night had drafted such "neither flesh nor fish" phrases such as "the pain, suffering and negative impacts of the war on food and energy security" and "the G20 supports all initiatives for a just and lasting peace". Also, regarding the crisis in the Middle East, nothing about Hamas, only calls to "support the American proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of hostages".

However, those who have worked in multilateral organizations know how difficult it is to reach consensus in such a format, a little more about these two explosive events that have created major clashes within the UN as well. The consensus regarding the exit from the climate crisis was also minimal. Without any concrete results, except for the billions of dollars that would be made available. In fact, there was no consent even for the prohibition of fossil fuels. For the latter, the statement was content with the phrase "to stop inefficient subsidies related to fossil fuels", but nothing more. However, Brazil as the chair of the G20 and President Lula achieved their goal and thanks to many demarches, maneuvers and diplomatic concessions they secured the consensus of all G20 leaders on the two most important political points for Brazil: first, the fight against poverty and hunger wreaking havoc in the Global South. The statement expresses the agreement on "creating a global alliance against poverty and hunger". It was underlined that for this purpose neither financial resources nor capacities are lacking, but only political will and decision are needed. Specifically, the objective was set that by 2030, 500 million people in the Global South will get out of poverty through social assistance, monetary funds, etc.

The other achievement noted and although not complete for the G20 and especially for Brazil and President Lula, was the consensus, even in principle, for the Brazilian proposal to impose a tax on 2800 super-rich people at the rate of two percent of their total wealth. As a result, 250 billion euros would be gained every year which would be used again to fight poverty, hunger and other social aspects. Despite the initial objections of the USA, Germany and other countries, such a measure was finally agreed, but without the above figures. The surprise success for Lula on this delicate issue was the consent of the categorical opponent, the Argentine president, Javier Miley, who initially was not even for the inclusion of this item on the agenda. We recall that he and Lula met face to face for the first time in Rio; previously, Miley had labeled Lula a "thief and corrupt communist". This was a political approach with values! And, finally, against the media predictions, at the end the family photo was taken amicably, the "icing on the cake" of the G20 Summit. What a promotional postcard for Rio, Lula and the future of Brazilian diplomatic samba!