Rubio Opens G20 Ministerial in Atlanta as Rifts and Iran Strike Reports Loom

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is chairing a gathering of foreign ministers from the Group of 20 largest economies in Atlanta, a meeting scheduled for Friday and Saturday that serves as preparation for a leaders summit in December.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is attending in person, while China is sending a deputy foreign minister rather than its top diplomat. The State Department has said most other participating countries have sent their foreign ministers. Ukraine is not on the attendee list; U.S. officials said they limited invitations to formal members of the group. South Africa is also absent from the invite list.

The meeting follows a period of heightened tension surrounding Russia's participation. The Russian foreign ministry reported issues securing visas for its delegation that were resolved only at the last minute, with ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova saying the complications created the impression that "not everyone in Washington is happy" about Lavrov's attendance. Lavrov has traveled infrequently to NATO member states since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Ian Kelly, who served as U.S. ambassador to Georgia during Trump's first term, said the invitation was politically unwise. "It seems politically boneheaded to invite him," said Kelly, who teaches international relations at Northwestern University.

U.S. officials have identified freedom of navigation as their priority for the talks, specifically addressing the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, the Black Sea, and the South China Sea. Discussions are expected to cover Iran, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and China's interactions with its neighbors. The State Department said Rubio intends to address geopolitical crises that contribute to global economic shocks, including threats to energy and food security and the supply of critical minerals.

The gathering takes place against a backdrop of reports regarding potential military action. The Associated Press has reported that U.S. officials have instructed several Middle East countries and regional allies to prepare for possible renewed strikes against Iran following Tuesday's midterm elections. Some G20 members have also raised concerns regarding Russia's participation while it conducts attacks on Ukraine.

Elaine Dezenski, head of the Center on Economic and Financial Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the meeting tests U.S. cooperation with partners. "The Atlanta meeting takes place within an environment of widening disagreement over the global economic order, and the right test is whether the U.S. can build cooperation with partners when all member consensus appears to be out of reach," she said during a conference call with reporters.

Following this ministerial session, the G20 leaders summit is scheduled for December at President Donald Trump's Miami golf club.