The United States abruptly cancelled the traditional family photo to open the G20 foreign ministers meeting on Friday. A host of nations, including Australia and the United Kingdom, refused to appear beside the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pulled the plug after several European officials, the UK, and Australia made it known they would boycott or walk out of the snapshot. Rubio still opened the talks in Atlanta with an appeal for unity on issues threatening international security and trade.
"We are in a critical moment," Rubio told his colleagues. "We are facing a series of interconnected economic and geopolitical crises."
European Union nations had made clear they would boycott any photo with the Russians. Germany’s foreign affairs minister, Johann Wadephul, warned ahead of the session that there is no normality with Russia.
The UK foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, promised a similar stance. "We do not engage in that way with the Russians and have not for a number of years," he said.
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. She stated that Russia’s illegal war had affected international markets and worsened global food security.
A spokesperson for Wong said Australia supported the US decision to cancel the group photo. "Australia has been clear and consistent: we will not normalise Russia’s brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine," the spokesperson said.
Diplomats attending the opening session described the atmosphere as cordial. However, they noted that Russia’s position on Ukraine remains unyielding, alongside its opposition to Poland’s membership in the G20.
These disagreements, which also include the US administration omitting South Africa from the guest list, will probably prevent the foreign ministers from producing a joint communique when meetings wrap up on Saturday. Poland is attending as a guest for the first time and seeking formal membership with US support.
South Africa, a founding member and the only African country in the group, was missing from the invitation list amid bitter disputes with the US administration. Phindile Kunene, a spokesperson for South African international relations minister Ronald Lamola, said their nonparticipation was not voluntary.
Participants who spoke on condition of anonymity said all had agreed to try to overcome differences. They aim to work towards making next month’s G20 leaders summit hosted by US President Donald Trump in Florida a success.
