Important call from @MrKRudd, who was crucial in G20 response in 2008/9.
But as Trump’s mind elsewhere, G20 troika should corral it: Canada, Saudi, Italy. With 🇸🇦 focused on their November summit, 🇨🇦 could host?This month.
Agenda writes itself: global economy, #COVID2019, oil.
But as Trump’s mind elsewhere, G20 troika should corral it: Canada, Saudi, Italy. With 🇸🇦 focused on their November summit, 🇨🇦 could host?This month.
Agenda writes itself: global economy, #COVID2019, oil.
A reminder from @GeorgeWParker
of what that G20 did for reassurance and confidence. No time to lose.
google.ae/amp/s/amp.ft.c…
of what that G20 did for reassurance and confidence. No time to lose.
google.ae/amp/s/amp.ft.c…
More widely on #COVID2019 and diplomacy, 🇩🇪 has - understandably - canceled Berlin Forum on lethal autonomous weapons. Crucial issue where diplomacy meets warfare meets tech, and focus of our #GlobalTechPanel. Example of lifesaving work that will be delayed because of virus.
Flying people around world to sit in close proximity for long periods in airless rooms falls well outside WHO guidelines. So virus could knock out or scale right back other 2020 international summits. For example ...
... 50th anniversary of non proliferation treaty (NY, April)? NPT already orphaned by Putin/Trump, and this was opportunity to reassert its importance.
... G7 (US, June)? Trump also no fan of G7, except perhaps on home territory in an election year. So it should go ahead, albeit lower key and with pandemics on agenda.
... UN75 (NY, September)? UN also in need of confidence boost, currently due to mark its 75th anniversary.
... UN75 (NY, September)? UN also in need of confidence boost, currently due to mark its 75th anniversary.
... G20 (Riyadh, Nov)? Gordon Brown rejuvenated forum in 2009 in response to last global economic crisis of this scale.
... COP26 (Glasgow, Nov)? Perhaps most urgent. Few states on track on climate pledges. Will virus mean crucial time/resource redeployed over coming months?
... COP26 (Glasgow, Nov)? Perhaps most urgent. Few states on track on climate pledges. Will virus mean crucial time/resource redeployed over coming months?
Should summits fall away, diplomats will need to scramble to create drama and forcing moment on key issues without grip/grin photos, face time for leaders or (recent addition) Trump tantrum. Answer to every global problem is not always an international conference.
#COVID19 also limits travel for leaders/diplomats. Every leap forward in comms - stirrup, ☎️, whatsapp - reduces reliance on Murrow's “last three feet”. But personal contact still key to best diplomacy. Craft that elevates handshake to evidence of success, not start of process.
Not suggesting for a moment any of this should trump medical advice or urgency of supporting those immediately hit by #COVID2019. But more examples of medium to long term implications that we risk not having time to process amid the press of the immediate and urgent.
