Foreign Minister Penny Wong has cautioned that ongoing cost-of-living pressures, exacerbated by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, are likely to continue driving social unrest across Europe. Speaking after a two-day meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Atlanta, Georgia, Wong highlighted the impact of these wars on fuel and shipping costs, which have translated into economic hardship for consumers.
Mass protests erupted in several European countries over the weekend, including France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. Wong linked these demonstrations to the broader economic strain fueled by the conflicts, warning that prolonged pressures threaten social and political stability globally. "We’re a long way from where we want to be," Wong said in a phone interview.
The G20 meeting concluded without a joint communique, underscoring divisions among member states over how to address the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, as well as difficulties in securing affordable food and energy supplies. Wong was among a group of foreign ministers who protested Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by refusing to be photographed with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. She criticised Russia for its refusal to engage in meaningful negotiations and for obstructing grain exports critical to global food markets.
The forum featured deep disagreements on several key issues, including the Russia-Ukraine war, tensions between Israel and Iran, US tariffs, and China's assertiveness in the South China Sea. The meeting served as a precursor to the upcoming G20 leaders’ summit in Florida in December, which will be hosted by US President Donald Trump and attended by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
In lieu of a communique, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement outlining G20 priorities such as energy security, food supply, and freedom of navigation. The Trump administration is reportedly considering renewed military action in Iran following the recent US midterm elections, a move that could prolong disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and intensify pressure on global oil prices. President Trump has also proposed direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of efforts to end the war in Ukraine, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been excluded from these initiatives.
The US government has attributed recent violent protests in France to uncontrolled immigration rather than economic hardships linked to the wars, a stance that contrasts with views like Wong’s.
On the meeting’s sidelines, Wong along with Rubio and the foreign ministers of India and Japan reaffirmed commitments to secure global supply chains and expressed concerns about "economic coercion" through export restrictions and unfair trade practices, though they refrained from explicitly naming China.
Looking ahead, leaders from the Quad security alliance—including Australia, the US, India, and Japan—are set to meet in the Philippines next month. However, the group revealed some internal differences, notably in a statement that referenced "Super Intelligence" six times in relation to economic growth, clarifying in a footnote that this term refers to artificial intelligence—an unusual rebranding endorsed by President Trump that has not been adopted by other countries.
As a final note from the Atlanta gathering, Wong was scheduled to attend a college football game between the University of Florida and the University of Georgia as a guest of Secretary Rubio. The minister remarked on the novelty of the experience and that she had familiarised herself with NFL rules ahead of the event.