G20 foreign ministers are meeting in Atlanta on October 30-31 as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, their economic effects and U.S.-China competition threaten unified action. The United States, which holds the rotating G20 presidency, is emphasizing trade imbalances, energy and supply-chain resilience while seeking support for Pax Silica, an initiative focused on reducing China’s dominance in rare earths and other critical minerals. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is hosting the meeting, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attending and South Africa excluded. The divisions have complicated even plans for the traditional family photograph. A State Department official said four ministerial meetings this year had reached some consensus, but further work was needed before the December 14-16 leaders’ summit in Miami. Officials and analysts said smaller coalitions and ad hoc statements could deliver more progress than agreements among all members. The meeting may also be affected by President Donald Trump’s recent decisions involving Russia, including a diesel purchase deal and the waiving of some sanctions, as well as Ukraine’s problems with Starshield satellite services. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is expected to call for increased support for Ukraine and progress on accountability through the Special Tribunal and Claims Commission. The discussions come amid uneven economic performance, the November 3 midterm elections and reports that the United States might launch fresh attacks on Iran. Russia, Ukraine and the United States are expected to hold technical-level trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi next month.