Attending The G20 Meeting, Foreign Minister Retno: If The Ukraine War Continues, Global Conditions Will Worsen

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi while attending a meeting of the G20 foreign minister in New Delhi, India. (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi called for the G20 to be a catalyst to revive the spirit of global collaboration, emphasizing the importance of the Russian-Ukraine war to end immediately, while attending a meeting of the G20 Foreign Ministers (FMM) in New Delhi, India, Thursday.

Foreign Minister Retno said the earthquake disaster in Turkey showed the spirit of collaboration was still there. This spirit is very much needed to answer various global challenges today.

"Last year the G20 leaders showed a similar spirit in Bali. In the midst of a difficult situation, they can put aside differences and agree on concrete results that are beneficial to the whole world," said Foreign Minister Retno, in a written statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thursday, March 2.

Furthermore, he said, the spirit of this collaboration needs to be revived to accelerate global recovery, and end the war in Ukraine.

He explained that currently global economic growth is at its lowest point in two decades. 349 million people in 79 countries are experiencing a food crisis.

"If the ammonia crisis is not resolved, the food crisis will get worse, especially for developing countries," said Foreign Minister Retno.

"If the war in Ukraine continues, the global situation will worsen. Therefore, the war must be stopped. Peaceful settlement must continue to be pursued," said the Foreign Minister.

The Foreign Minister added that the war in Ukraine further emphasized the importance of respect for international law and the development of an inclusive regional security architecture to create peace, stability and prosperity.

According to him, these things have been pursued by ASEAN for the past five decades.

"Indonesia's chairmanship in ASEAN will work hard to expand this effort to the Indo-Pacific region. Indonesia will focus on encouraging the concrete implementation of the 'ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific' so that all countries can develop together," said the Foreign Minister.

Foreign Minister Retno said that multilateralism was built on the foundations of inclusive collaboration. Only then can multilateralism produce results and overcome various challenges of today.

"With its collective influence, the G20 must be a catalyst to revive the spirit of collaboration. Inclusive collaboration will lead us to a peaceful, stable, and prosperous world," he concluded.