The United States has cancelled the traditional G20 “family photo” in Atlanta after foreign ministers objected to appearing alongside Russia’s Sergei Lavrov.
The photograph was due to be taken on Friday morning but did not go ahead. A US official said the hosts did not want the dispute over Russia’s presence to become a distraction, while Washington issued no formal statement explaining the cancellation.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong had made clear that she would not take part in a photograph with Mr Lavrov, according to a source familiar with the matter. Canada also objected, Reuters reported, citing a diplomat.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said before the meeting that European ministers would not pose with their Russian counterpart.
“In no case will there be a family photo with European partners and Mr Lavrov together because … there is no normalcy with Russia,” he said.
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband had also indicated that he would not participate. “We do not engage in that way with the Russians and have not for a number of years,” he said.
Mr Wadephul later posted a photograph of himself embracing Ms Wong and praised the free trade agreement between Australia and the European Union, which the Australian government is seeking to ratify despite opposition from the Coalition.
At the Atlanta meeting, Mr Lavrov was seated between Mexico and Saudi Arabia, across the plenary table from Ms Wong.
The dispute comes as the Trump administration seeks to bring Russia and President Vladimir Putin back into the global economic and diplomatic community, despite the continuing war against Ukraine.
Donald Trump has waived new sanctions that were due to apply to Russia and its trading partners under legislation championed by the late Republican senator Lindsey Graham. He has also announced plans to purchase 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel, with further purchases possible, although it was unclear whether Moscow could meet the order after Ukrainian attacks damaged Russian oil refineries.
Mr Trump has invited Mr Putin to attend the G20 leaders’ meeting in Miami in December. It remains unclear whether the Russian president will attend.
Opening the summit, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the world was facing a “moment of choosing”, with threats to energy and food markets, global supply chains and freedom of navigation.
“We are facing a series of interconnected economic and geopolitical crises, many of which pose severe threats to essential foundations of the global economic order,” Mr Rubio said. “The G20 must work together to confront these threats.”
Ms Wong is due to attend a Quad meeting with India, Japan and the United States on Saturday. She is also scheduled to meet Mr Rubio and take part in a trilateral meeting with Britain and Canada.
