Global food security will be in the focus of attention of the participants of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting.
The issues of food and energy security will be in the focus of attention of the participants of the meeting of foreign ministers of the G20 countries, which will be held this week in Indonesia. A senior Department of State official said that G20 members should insist that Russia support UN efforts to open sea lanes blocked as a result of the war that Moscow is waging in Ukraine.
Ramin Toloui, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, told reporters that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will raise issues of energy and food security both at the main meeting of G20 foreign ministers, which will be held on Friday, and at bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the main event.
“The G20 countries should call Russia to account and insist that it supports the ongoing UN efforts to open sea routes for grain delivery,” he said, referring to the initiative to deliver Ukrainian and Russian food and fertilizers to world markets. “Regardless of whether this is happening at the G20 level or at the level of individual G20 countries, this is an important point that Secretary Blinken will focus on.”
Daniel Kritenbrink, who oversees the East Asia region at the Department of State, said at the same briefing that he expects a “frank” exchange of views on Ukraine during bilateral talks between Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the G20.
“This will be another opportunity to express our expectations about what we expect from China and what it should not do in the context of Ukraine,” he said.
Shortly before the invasion of Ukraine, China and Russia announced their “unlimited” partnership. The White House has already noted that the United States has not seen China evade the implementation of Western sanctions against Moscow or supply military equipment to Russia.
However, China refused to condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine and criticized the sanctions imposed by the West against Moscow.
The United States has warned of consequences, including sanctions, if China begins to support Russian military capabilities.
Washington calls China its main strategic rival and fears that Beijing may one day try to seize Taiwan by force, just as Russia attacked Ukraine.
Kritenbrink said it was “absolutely important” to maintain open lines of communication with Beijing “to prevent any miscalculations that could inadvertently lead to conflict and confrontation.”
