Rio Transforms Into High-Security Zone As World Leaders Gather For G20 Summit

City on Lockdown, G20 Summit Venue at the Center

Rio de Janeiro, a city typically known for its laid-back security, has undergone an unprecedented transformation, deploying around 25,000 soldiers and police officers across its streets. Thousands of surveillance cameras have been installed, while world leaders like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, and Chinese President Xi Jinping assemble for the two-day G20 Summit beginning today. The primary venue, Rio’s Museum of Modern Art, sits on the bay, offering views of the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain—a landmark now surrounded by heightened security measures.

 

Public Holiday Declared, Airport Closed for Two Days

In anticipation of the summit, Rio has declared a two-day public holiday starting Monday, November 18, to minimize disruptions across the city. Additionally, the domestic Santos Dumont Airport, located close to the summit venue, will temporarily close, redirecting tens of thousands of passengers to the more distant Galeão International Airport.

 

Strengthened Naval and Aerial Surveillance

Security has extended to Rio’s coastlines, with the Navy ramping up patrols along Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. A fleet of 5,000 security cameras will monitor the streets, while drones and helicopters will provide aerial surveillance. Lucas Padilha, head of Rio’s G20 municipal organizing committee, acknowledged the logistical challenge of ensuring the event’s security, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public safety. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has authorized military intervention if exceptional circumstances arise during the summit.

 

Global Agendas: Poverty, Climate Finance, and Leadership

Top economic leaders at this year’s G20 Summit will address global challenges such as poverty alleviation and climate financing, amidst potential complications arising from the US President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming term. Simultaneously, COP29, the UN climate conference held in Azerbaijan, has stalled on climate finance for developing nations, prompting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to urge G20 countries, responsible for 80% of global emissions, to demonstrate “leadership and compromise.”

 

While the previous G20 summit in India set goals to triple renewable energy by the end of the decade, it stopped short of formally calling for an end to fossil fuel usage a topic that may resurface during these critical discussions in Rio.