SPECIAL ENVOYS TO RIO – The Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, used his first speech in G-20to attack the Russia and ask for humanitarian support to Gazanot to mention Israel. Starmer made his first appearance at the G-20 this Monday, the 18th, at the Rio Leaders’ Summit. He spoke in front of the Russian Foreign Minister, Serguei Lavrov, representative of President Vladimir Putin, who was absent from the meeting.
“It is important in this room that we address Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. Tomorrow marks the thousandth day of your invasion of a peaceful and sovereign state. And they have inflicted damage across the world, including food and energy security. So we ask, again, for a just and lasting peace, consistent with the UN Charter,” said the Labor premier.
British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, during the G-20 meeting Photo: Paulo Mumia/G20 Brazil
Starmer anticipated an agenda of geopolitical debates that the Brazilian presidency intended to leave off the agenda and that divides the G-20. With the summit underway, there is still uncertainty about what the leaders’ joint official statement will be and whether all countries will endorse it in full. There are indications that Javier Milei’s Argentina may reject some of the themes.
The most recent developments in the war in Ukraine affect the debate in Rio. The most recent fact on the scene was the United States’ decision to authorize the use, by Ukraine, of long-range missiles supplied by NATO that would allow it to reach Russian territory. President Joe Biden’s decision came after a massive Russian airstrike on energy infrastructure in Ukraine.
He also said the UK would double humanitarian support for people displaced by the war in Sudan, a conflict which he said highlights “man-made hunger”. “The biggest step in the fight against hunger today would come from conflict resolution,” said Starmer, during the launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty.
“We again call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza so that the hostages can be released. We are deeply concerned about the plight of Palestinian civilians facing catastrophic hunger and starvation, particularly in northern Gaza. In defending itself, Israel must act in accordance with international humanitarian law and do much more to protect civilians and aid workers,” the prime minister said.
The United Kingdom offered £100 million in humanitarian aid, according to the prime minister, who demanded more financial aid to the Palestinian territory for support actions. “We need to see a massive increase in the amount of aid reaching civilians in Gaza. UNRWA (United Nations refugee agency) must be able to fulfill its mandate, particularly at the start of winter.”
