Energy and trade concerns
The meeting took place during the United States' rotating G20 presidency, according to the U.S. State Department's Office of the Spokesman.
At the opening plenary, Rubio called for cooperation to address pressures on energy and food supply chains and threats to freedom of navigation. The world faces "interconnected economic and geopolitical crises, many of which pose severe threats" to the global economy, he warned, according to AFP.
Energy costs were a backdrop to those discussions. AFP reported that global prices had climbed sharply since U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran beginning in late February triggered Tehran's blockage of the Strait of Hormuz.
Disputes over Russia's presence
Several European participants refused to pose beside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in protest against Russia's war against Ukraine, Deutschlandfunk reported. The Associated Press said those objections prompted the United States to cancel the group photo.
Lavrov attended at Rubio's invitation. AFP noted that he remains under international sanctions and that most Western countries have shunned Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
China sent a deputy foreign minister rather than its top diplomat, Wang Yi. Most other countries were represented by their top diplomats, U.S. officials told the Associated Press.
Rubio statement featured in phoenix coverage
German broadcaster phoenix covered the gathering in an October 30 edition of phoenix vor ort. The 10-minute segment featured a press statement by Rubio and a live discussion with ARD correspondent Carsten Kühntopp. The video is listed as available through November 30, 2028.
Chair's summary expected ahead of leaders' summit
Rather than a joint declaration, the Atlanta talks were likely to produce a U.S.-drafted chair's summary, a diplomatic source told AFP.
This was the last foreign ministers' meeting before the G20 leaders' summit, scheduled for December 14-16, 2026, at President Donald Trump's Doral resort in Miami, Florida.
