G20 photo session canceled over Lavrov
European diplomats refused to stand beside the Russian foreign minister, forcing the U.S. to drop a traditional opening event in Atlanta.
By Stella Brooks ·
The U.S. State Department canceled a group photograph scheduled for the opening of G20 foreign minister talks in Atlanta on Friday. The decision followed objections from several European diplomats who did not want to be pictured alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Two anonymous U.S. officials told the Associated Press that Secretary of State Marco Rubio scrapped the session to avoid a distraction. The photo op is a standard ritual at such diplomatic gatherings. Its removal signals friction within the group before the leaders meet in December.
The meeting serves as a preparatory step for a G20 summit hosted by President Donald Trump at his golf club in Miami. The agenda covers the Russia-Ukraine war, the conflict involving Iran, U.S. tariffs, and disputes in the South China Sea. These issues have driven up global fuel costs and created trade uncertainty.
Rubio opened the talks by calling for a productive meeting. He described the current situation as a moment of choice for the world, noting that interconnected crises threaten the foundations of the global economic order.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski called the cancellation the right decision. He stated that he was not the only one who did not want to be photographed with Lavrov. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told the dpa news agency that there is no normality with Russia, but the group must exchange controversies at the table. He warned against sending falsely optimistic signals.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said visa issues for its delegation were resolved at the last minute. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed this created an impression that not everyone in Washington was happy with Lavrov’s attendance. She said he would advocate for swift reform of global economic institutions.
Ian Kelly, a former U.S. ambassador to Georgia, called the invitation to Lavrov politically boneheaded. He noted that many Republican lawmakers are already unhappy with Trump’s approach to Vladimir Putin. Kelly said Lavrov’s presence will likely hurt efforts to create a unified Western message on the Ukraine war.
South Africa, a founding G20 member, was not invited to this year’s meeting. Phindile Kunene, spokesperson for South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, said the country’s nonparticipation is not voluntary. South Africa is set to join the group on an equal footing when Britain takes over the G20 presidency next year.
