Ukraine war, tensions with China loom over big Bali summit
The Hindu
The summit’s official priorities of health, sustainable energy and digital transformation are likely to be overshadowed by fears of a sputtering global economy and geopolitical tensions centred on the war in Ukraine
A showdown between Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin isn’t happening, but the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and growing tensions between China and the West will be at the fore when leaders of the world’s biggest economies gather in tropical Bali this week.
The Group of 20 (G-20) members begin talks on the Indonesian resort island Tuesday under the hopeful theme of “recover together, recover stronger.” While Mr. Putin is staying away, Mr. Biden will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and get to know new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni.
The summit’s official priorities of health, sustainable energy and digital transformation are likely to be overshadowed by fears of a sputtering global economy and geopolitical tensions centred on the war in Ukraine.
The nearly nine-month-old conflict has disrupted trade in oil, natural gas and grain, and shifted much of the summit's focus to food and energy security.
The U.S. and allies in Europe and Asia, meanwhile, increasingly are squaring off against a more assertive China, leaving emerging G-20 economies like India, Brazil and host Indonesia to walk a tightrope between bigger powers.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has tried to bridge rifts within the G-20 over the war in Ukraine. Mr. Widodo, also known as Jokowi, became the first Asian leader since the invasion to visit both Russia and Ukraine in the summer.
He invited President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, not a G-20 member, to join the summit. Mr. Zelenskyy is expected to participate, likely online.
Pakistan's PM Sharif receives invitation from Trump to join the Board of Peace for Gaza alongside other nations.
Chile declares a state of emergency as wildfires kill 15 and force 50,000 evacuations in southern regions.
Poland's Deputy PM emphasizes that borders should be determined by negotiation, not violence, while discussing EU-India relations.
Italian PM Meloni criticizes Trump's tariff threats over Greenland, calling them a "mistake" and urging NATO for clearer communication.
Uganda extends social media ban post-election while lifting internet restrictions, citing concerns over misinformation and public order.
Kurdish forces withdraw from Syria's largest oil field as government troops assert control amidst ongoing tensions and stalled integration efforts.
Pentagon prepares 1,500 troops for potential deployment to Minnesota amid escalating tensions over protests against immigration enforcement.
Iran plans to gradually restore internet access after a week-long shutdown amid ongoing protests and communications issues.
French Minister warns Trump faces significant risks from proposed tariffs on Europe, impacting U.S. farmers and industries.
Official reports confirm at least 5,000 deaths from Iran protests, with heavy clashes concentrated in Kurdish regions.
Spanish PM Sanchez warns that a U.S. invasion of Greenland would empower Putin and jeopardize NATO's stability.
Syrian state media reports Kurdish forces destroyed two key bridges in Raqqa amid advancing government troops.
Taiwanese journalist Lin Chen-you is accused of bribing military officers for sensitive information to relay to China.