US Cancels G20 Photo After Nations Reject Russia’s Presence
The United States has cancelled the traditional G20 foreign ministers’ family photograph after several countries, including Australia and the United Kingdom, threatened to boycott it over Russia’s participation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio abandoned the planned photograph after European officials and other participating nations objected to standing alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
About one-third of the countries attending the meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, reportedly indicated they would refuse to participate in any group photograph featuring Russian representatives.
European Union countries had particularly strong objections, insisting that appearing alongside Lavrov would send the wrong message amid Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
Germany’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Johann Wadephul, had warned that European representatives would not participate in a photograph with Lavrov, stressing that relations with Moscow could not be treated normally.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also expressed his country’s position, saying the UK had avoided such engagements with Russian officials for several years.
Australia equally maintained its opposition to Russia’s participation in the photograph, with Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong openly condemning Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking during the opening session, Wong described the invasion as brutal and unjustified, arguing that Russia’s actions had disrupted international markets and worsened global food insecurity.
An Australian government spokesperson subsequently welcomed Washington’s decision to cancel the photograph, reiterating that the country would not legitimise Russia’s invasion.
Despite the diplomatic disagreement, Rubio opened the meeting with an appeal for cooperation, warning that the international community faced interconnected economic and geopolitical challenges.
The controversy highlights growing divisions within the G20, particularly over the Trump administration’s efforts to restore Russia’s international standing despite its continuing military campaign in Ukraine.
Diplomats who attended the opening discussions described the atmosphere as cordial, although Russia reportedly maintained its position on Ukraine and opposed Poland’s proposed G20 membership.
Another major disagreement concerns South Africa, a founding G20 member, which was excluded from the Atlanta meeting despite objections from several participating countries.
The exclusion has further strained relations between Washington and Pretoria, which have experienced repeated disagreements under President Donald Trump’s administration.
South African officials maintained that their country’s absence was not voluntary, with foreign affairs spokesperson Phindile Kunene reiterating the government’s position.
Meanwhile, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, acknowledged the difficulty of reaching common positions when countries involved in ongoing conflicts shared the same negotiating table.
The disagreements could prevent foreign ministers from issuing a joint communiqué when the meeting concludes, although participants reportedly remain committed to making progress.
Attention is now shifting towards next month’s G20 leaders’ summit in Florida, which President Donald Trump is scheduled to host.
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