US cancels G20 family photo after allies refuse to appear with Russia
Rubio cancelled the G20 foreign ministers' family photo after about a third of delegations, including Australia, the UK and EU, refused to appear beside Lavrov.
The story in focus
The Guardian reports that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cancelled the traditional G20 foreign ministers' 'family photo' in Atlanta after about one-third of delegations, including Australia, the UK and EU nations, refused to appear alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over the war in Ukraine.
- Rubio cancelled the traditional opening photo at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta.
- About one-third of countries at the talks said they would not appear beside any Russian representatives.
- Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Lavrov's presence.
- Germany's Johann Wadephul said there could be no normality with Russia; UK's Ed Miliband said the UK does not engage that way with Russia.
- Participants said disputes over Ukraine, Poland's membership bid and South Africa's exclusion will probably block a joint communique.
Photo cancelled as delegations refuse to appear with Lavrov
The Guardian reports that the traditional 'family photo' opening the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta was abruptly cancelled by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio after several European officials, the UK and Australia made clear they would boycott or walk out of the snapshot. About one-third of countries at the talks said they would not appear beside any Russian representatives, according to the report.
Rubio still opened the talks with an appeal for unity on issues threatening international security and trade, telling colleagues they were in a critical moment facing interconnected economic and geopolitical crises.
Wong condemns invasion in Lavrov's presence
During the opening session, Australia's foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as brutal and unjustified in front of Lavrov, saying the illegal war had affected international markets and worsened global food security, The Guardian reports.
A spokesperson for Wong said Australia supported the US decision to cancel the group photo, stating Australia would not normalise Russia's invasion and that its focus at the G20 remained on the global economy. Germany's foreign affairs minister, Johann Wadephul, warned ahead of Friday's session that there could be no normality with Russia, while UK foreign secretary Ed Miliband said the UK does not engage that way with the Russians.
Disputes likely to block joint communique
Diplomats described the opening session as cordial but said Russia's position on Ukraine and its opposition to Poland's G20 membership are unyielding. Participants said those disagreements, along with the Trump administration's decision not to invite G20 member South Africa, will probably prevent a joint communique when meetings wrap up on Saturday.
Several participants, speaking anonymously, said all agreed to try to overcome differences and work to make next month's G20 leaders' summit in Florida a success, The Guardian reports. Ukraine was not invited this year, while Poland is attending as a guest and seeking formal membership with US support. South Africa, a founding member and the only African country in the group, was not invited.
Why did some delegations refuse to appear with Russia at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting?
About one-third of countries, including Australia, the UK and EU nations, refused to appear alongside Sergei Lavrov over Russia's war in Ukraine, The Guardian reports, leading Rubio to cancel the traditional family photo.
Sources & further reading
- US cancels G20 ‘family photo’ after Australia, UK and others refuse to appear with Russia ↗The Guardian
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