G20 Family Photo Cancelled After Countries Refuse to Stand With Russia
The traditional G20 family photo has been scrapped. At the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called off the group snapshot after several countries said they would not appear next to Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.
Why Was the Photo Cancelled?
According to reports, about one-third of the countries at the talks made clear they would not pose with any Russian representative. European Union members, the UK and Australia were among those ready to boycott or walk out.
Germany’s foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, said there would be no photo with European partners and Lavrov together, because there is no normality with Russia. The UK foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, said Britain has not dealt with Russians that way for years. Australia later said it supported the US decision, adding that it will not normalise Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Rubio Calls for Unity
Even without the photo, Rubio opened the meeting with a call for cooperation. He told ministers the world is at a critical moment, facing several linked economic and geopolitical crises.
During the opening session, Australian foreign minister Penny Wong described Russia’s invasion as brutal and unjustified, and she said it to Lavrov’s face. She argued that the war has hurt global markets and worsened food security.
A Deeper Split
The row shows how divided the group has become. The Trump administration has been trying to bring Russia and President Vladimir Putin back into the international fold, even as the war in Ukraine continues. Diplomats described the opening session as cordial, but said Russia has not moved on Ukraine. Russia also opposes Poland joining the G20.
Another sore point is South Africa. The country is a founding member and the only African nation in the group, yet it was not invited. Its foreign ministry spokesperson, Phindile Kunene, said South Africa’s absence is not voluntary. Ukraine was also left out, since US officials said only formal members were invited.
No Joint Statement Expected
Participants say a joint communique is unlikely when the meetings end on Saturday. Poland’s foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, who attended as a guest for the first time, said it is hard to agree a common line when countries fighting wars sit at the same table. Poland wants full membership and has US backing.
What Comes Next?
Despite the tension, several participants said everyone agreed to try to overcome their differences. The next test comes next month, when Donald Trump hosts the G20 leaders’ summit in Florida. After this week, the missing G20 family photo may be a sign of how hard that meeting could be.
