US Cancels G20 Group Photo After European Diplomats Object to Posing with Lavrov
Political
The United States cancelled the traditional group photograph of G20 foreign ministers in Atlanta after European representatives objected to appearing alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Secretary of State Marco Rubio decided to drop the photo opportunity to prevent a public dispute from distracting delegates from their talks.
The foreign ministers’ meeting of the Group of 20 is taking place in Atlanta on October 30–31 under the US presidency. US officials said several delegations had warned they might leave the room if asked to pose with Lavrov. A Western diplomat told Reuters that about a third of participants, including Australia and Canada, opposed a joint picture. Officials had earlier discussed taking two separate photographs, one with the Russian minister and one without him, but that option was also abandoned.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said there would be no group photograph with European partners and Lavrov because “there is no normality with Russia”. He added that contentious issues should still be discussed at the negotiating table and that participants should avoid sending falsely optimistic signals about relations returning to normal.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski described the cancellation as the right decision by Washington. “I am not the only one who does not want to be photographed with Lavrov,” he told reporters in Atlanta. Several countries had already voiced concern about Russia’s participation amid intensified Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine.
Opening the talks, Rubio said he hoped for a productive meeting and described the moment as a critical point of choice for the United States and the world. He said interconnected economic and geopolitical crises posed serious threats to the foundations of the global economic order.
The cancelled photo underscored divisions within the G20. The agenda includes the war in Ukraine, the US-Israeli war against Iran, US tariffs and tensions in the South China Sea. Talks continued, without the customary group photograph.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said there would be no group photograph with European partners and Lavrov because “there is no normality with Russia”. He added that contentious issues should still be discussed at the negotiating table and that participants should avoid sending falsely optimistic signals about relations returning to normal.
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski described the cancellation as the right decision by Washington. “I am not the only one who does not want to be photographed with Lavrov,” he told reporters in Atlanta. Several countries had already voiced concern about Russia’s participation amid intensified Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine.
Opening the talks, Rubio said he hoped for a productive meeting and described the moment as a critical point of choice for the United States and the world. He said interconnected economic and geopolitical crises posed serious threats to the foundations of the global economic order.
The cancelled photo underscored divisions within the G20. The agenda includes the war in Ukraine, the US-Israeli war against Iran, US tariffs and tensions in the South China Sea. Talks continued, without the customary group photograph.
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