Security ramp-up: Over 9,000 military personnel mobilized for G20 in Brazil

More than 9,000 servicemen will be deployed to ensure security during the upcoming Group of Twenty (G20) summit in Rio de Janeiro, according to Brazil's Ministry of Defence.

The Ministry confirmed that starting Thursday, November 14, the Brazilian armed forces will engage 9,000 military personnel for a law enforcement operation in preparation for the G20 summit, which will take place on November 18-19, Caliber.Az reports referencing foreign media.

Authorities in Brazil stated that 56 delegations are expected to attend the summit. The Brazilian Army, Navy, and Air Force will collaborate to ensure the safety and security of the event.

The 2024 summit will be notable for the first appearances of Argentine President Javier Milei, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. It will also mark the final G20 summit for US President Joe Biden. Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided not to attend due to Brazil’s ratification of the Rome Statute, which grants Brazil the right to arrest a sitting Russian president if an International Criminal Court warrant is issued against him.

Putin explained that his presence at the summit could disrupt the proceedings and stated that Russia would send a representative capable of honourably representing the country's interests.

In Putin’s absence, the Russian delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Ahead of the summit, Brazilian media reported that discussions among G20 representatives in Rio de Janeiro had stalled over disagreements between Western nations and the global South over the drafting of the final declaration. Tensions arose particularly around how to address the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Western countries, led by the USA, pushed for the inclusion of sections condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine, while countries from the global South (though not named in the reports) called for provisions criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Brazil’s representative at the summit, Sherpa Mauricio Lirio, stated that the G20 summit would focus on discussions surrounding the war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict. "Discussions are already underway between governments to reach a consensus on these two topics," Lirio said.

In October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope that the G20 meeting would address proposals by China, India, and South Africa for resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

By Tamilla Hasanova