SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you all for being here. I want to welcome you to Atlanta, Georgia, for what I hope will be a highly productive meeting. Today represents a critical moment—a moment of choice not only for the United States but for the entire world.
We are facing a series of interconnected economic and geopolitical crises that pose severe threats to the essential foundations of the global economic order. New disruptions and strains are impacting global energy and food supplies, supply chains, trade, and the very principle of freedom of navigation. To confront these challenges, the G20 must work together to strengthen our economic resilience and safeguard the markets that sustain our economies.
The challenges we face are multifaceted and deeply interconnected, meaning our solutions must be as well. This session will help set the context for expanded geopolitical stability and the broader economic prosperity agenda our leaders will address. As diplomats and political leaders, we have a vital responsibility to coordinate our responses to emerging crises and protect our shared interests. By translating shared interests into practical cooperation and concrete action, we can reinforce global stability and deliver meaningful results for our citizens.
Over the next two days, we will focus on two key issues in this plenary session: freedom of navigation and food security. I will introduce each topic before opening the floor to other delegates. We will proceed around the table in alphabetical order. While these topics are complex and nuanced, I kindly ask that each intervention be limited to approximately three minutes so that we can stay on schedule. I will wrap up each discussion before moving on to the next topic.