British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will call on leaders at the G20 to “fix the weaknesses” in the global economic system, and work together to bring down prices driven up by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
As one of Mr Sunak's first outings on the global stage since taking office last month, he will arrive in Bali, Indonesia, on Monday for the gathering of leaders of the world’s biggest economies.
Beginning on Tuesday, the two-day summit comes as the world confronts some of the most significant economic challenges since G20 leaders first met to respond to the 2008 financial crisis.
The economic woes have been exacerbated by the Ukraine war, which has fuelled a sharp rise in energy and food prices and soaring global inflation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has faced unanimous condemnation from western leaders over the conflict, is expected to miss the event and send his Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, in his place.
Mr Sunak said he would “call out Putin’s regime” during the first encounter between a British prime minister and Russian government officials since Moscow’s full-scale invasion began in February.
He plans to confront Mr Lavrov with allies at the summit’s first plenary session.
Rishi Sunak through the years - in pictures
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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announces July 4 as the date for the 2024 general election at No 10 Downing Street. Here, The National looks back at his political career. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak during local election campaigning in Teesside in May 2024. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak presents cupcakes to journalists on board a plane on the way to Warsaw in April 2024. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak during a press conference in Downing Street in January after the Safety of Rwanda Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons. Getty Images -
Being applauded after his speech at the Conservative Party conference in October 2023. Getty Images -
Looking pensive alongside then-home secretary Suella Braverman at No 10 in October 2023. She didn't last much longer in the cabinet. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak sits in an old Special Branch police vehicle which was used to transport former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, in July 2023. Getty Images -
On board Border Agency cutter HMC Seeker during a visit to Dover in June 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during the G7 Summit in May 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty arriving in Japan ahead of the G7 Summit in May 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt sending a message at Accrington Market Hall in January 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in Ukraine's capital Kyiv in November 2022. Getty Images -
King Charles III welcomes Mr Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government in October 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak makes a statement outside No 10 in October 2022 after taking office. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak arrives inside Number 10 in October 2022. Photo: Simon Walker/ No 10 Downing Street -
Greeted by colleagues at Conservative Party HQ after having been announced winner of the leadership contest in October 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak at Westminster Hall in London following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. PA -
Mr Sunak visits his family's old business, Bassett Pharmacy, on the campaign trail in August 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak looks at an NLAW anti-tank launcher during a visit to the Thales Defence System plant in Belfast in August 2022. Getty Images -
At a hustings event in Exeter in August 2022. Getty Images -
Celebrates England's first goal as he watches the Women's Euro 2022 final in Salisbury in July 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Ms Truss take part in the BBC Leadership debate at Victoria Hall, Hanley, in July 2022. Getty Images -
With daughters Krisna and Anoushka and wife Akshata Murthy in July 2022. Getty Images -
Opening the Great Ayton Village Fete during the queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Ms Murthy speak to then-Prince Charles at a British Asian Trust event in February 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak arrives at COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021 when he was chancellor. Getty Images -
Holding the budget box as he departs 11 Downing Street to deliver his Autumn Budget in October 2021. Getty Images -
At a press conference on the 2021 Budget in London in March 2021. Getty Images -
With former prime minister Boris Johnson during a visit to PD Ports on the River Tees in March 2021. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak poses with the budget box at 11 Downing Street in March 2021. Getty Images -
Meeting staff back at work after being furloughed at Hamleys toy shop in London, December 2020. Photo: HM Treasury -
Mr Sunak visits the Imperial Clinic Research Facility at Hammersmith Hospital, London, in November 2020. Getty Images -
Lighting a candle for Diwali on Downing Street, November 2020. Getty Images -
Working on a speech in his flat above 11 Downing Street in November 2020. Photo: HM Treasury -
Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak visit the headquarters of Octopus Energy in London in October 2020. Getty Images -
With his 'Winter Economy Plan' outside 11 Downing Street in September 2020. AFP -
Decorating a plate at Emma Bridgewater pottery in Stoke pottery in September 2020. Getty Images -
Promoting 'eat out to help out' on the Isle of Bute, Scotland, in August 2020. Getty Images -
A member of the public takes a selfie with Rishi Sunak during a visit to Scotland in August 2020. AFP -
Visiting a Wagamama restaurant in central London in July 2020. Photo: HM Treasury -
Rishi Sunak visits a Pret A Manger in Westminster in July 2020. HM Treasury -
With Mr Johnson at his first Cabinet meeting after a reshuffle at 10 Downing Street in February 2020. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak speaks during a general election debate in Cardiff in November 2019. Getty Images
“We will absolutely use every opportunity to confront Russia about their continued illegal actions," the prime minister's official spokesman said before the trip.
“We … will speak with our allies in one voice on this.”
Divisions among the Group of 20 major economies are so deep that the traditional “family photo” has been called off and diplomats are doubtful leaders will be able to issue a communique at the end of the summit.
They cannot agree on a statement that condemns Moscow because Russia would never agree to criticise itself.
Bali will be the first major diplomatic test for Mr Sunak, whose experience in government has so far been almost entirely UK-focused.
He will meet US President Joe Biden for the first time and the two will hold bilateral talks, although the American leader's priority will probably be his meeting with China’s Xi Jinping.
Mr Sunak will also meet India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japan’s premier Fumio Kishida, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
He met some European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, at the UN climate talks in Egypt a week earlier, when he indicated warmer relations than those under his predecessors at Downing Street.
Preparations for G20 in Bali - in pictures
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President Sheikh Mohamed arrives for the G20 Summit in Nusa, Bali. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
US President Joe Biden, right, and China's President Xi Jinping, left, shake hands at the summit. AFP -
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives. AFP -
French President Emmanuel Macron is welcomed. AFP -
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) arrives. EPA -
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan arrive to attend the meeting. AFP -
Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida arrive. Reuters -
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrives. Reuters -
Students wave flags of G20 member nations to greet world leaders, on a street near Ngurah Rai International airport in Bali. EPA -
US President Joe Biden and Indonesia's President Joko Widodo hold a meeting in Bali. AFP -
A video by Amazon and Bezos Earth Fund executive chairman Jeff Bezos is displayed at the B20 Summit for business leaders, held before the G20 leaders summit. AP -
US President Joe Biden arrives for the summit in Bali. AFP -
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (R) arrives to attend the G20 summit. AFP -
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee arrive. EPA -
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak holds a 'huddle' press conference with political journalists on board a plane heading for Bali. PA -
Tourists pose for pictures in front of police-armoured vehicles parked near the venue of the G20 Bali Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali. AFP -
Indonesia is gearing up to host leaders of the world's biggest economies. AP Photo -
A plane comes in to land at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali. AFP -
Bali will host the 17th Group of 20 Heads of State and Government Summit from November 15 to 16. EPA -
Flags of the participating countries line a motorway. AFP -
Hindus join the Melaspas and Mecaru rituals ahead of the G20 meeting. Reuters -
The logo of the G20 summit, in Jakarta. AFP -
Indonesian military personnel take part in a security drill for the G20 meeting in Denpasar, Bali's main city. EPA -
Indonesian military personnel prepare for the G20 meeting. Reuters -
An Indonesian police officer stands in front of a portrait of President Joko Widodo. EPA -
Part of the security drill in Denpasar. Reuters -
Indonesian police officers. EPA -
Female police officers stand to attention during a security parade. AP Photo -
Soldiers during a security parade. AP Photo -
Military honour guards at a security parade. AP Photo -
Indonesian military personnel. AFP -
Indonesian military personnel on the resort island of Bali. AFP
Mr Sunak will want to restore Britain’s reputation for reliability despite recent political turmoil, and show he is returning stability to the economy at home after Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-budget.
He will also want to use the summit to influence an international agenda that supplements and reinforces what his Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, will unveil in the Autumn Statement, British officials say
Mr Sunak will return to the UK on Thursday in time for his budget, in which Mr Hunt could impose up to £60 billion ($71bn) in tax increases and spending cuts.
“Later this week the Autumn Statement will set out how we will get this country on the right path, put public finances on a stable footing and get debt falling," Mr Sunak said.
“Creating a stable international system that protects the most vulnerable will be a core part of that work.
“But addressing the biggest economic crisis in a decade will require a concerted effort by the world’s largest economies. These are not problems we can solve alone.
“At the G20, leaders need to step up to fix the weaknesses in the international economic system which Putin has exploited for years.”
Mr Sunak set out a plan to bolster the global economic system, including urging governments to direct support to poor citizens and countries.
He called for an end to Russia’s “weaponisation” of food production and distribution, and for the renewal of a deal, due to expire on Saturday, allowing grain exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports to ease the global food crisis.
The UK will work with partners to boost investment in the green transition as part of efforts to stop “Russia’s stranglehold over international energy prices”, according to Mr Sunak’s plan.
He also proposed World Trade Organisation reforms to open up global trade and deal with the “manipulation of global markets by malign actors”.
The international financial system must have the firepower needed to help developing nations grow without becoming dependent on “exploitative” lenders, the plan said.
