G20 foreign ministers' photo op cancelled after several nations refuse to stand with Russia
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The United States halted the traditional group photograph at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta after Australia, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other countries said they would not appear alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The United States cancelled the customary "family photo" that opens the G20 foreign ministers' meeting after a number of participants announced they would not stand beside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Secretary of State Marco Rubio opened the talks in Atlanta by calling for unity on security and trade issues, but said the photo would not proceed.
"We are in a critical moment. We are facing a series of interconnected economic and geopolitical crises," Rubio told the delegates.
Around one-third of the attending countries indicated they would boycott the snapshot. Germany’s foreign affairs minister Johann Wadephul warned that a joint photo with Lavrov would not happen because "there is no normality with Russia." The UK foreign secretary Ed Miliband echoed the stance, saying the UK does not engage with Russia in that manner.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as "brutal and unjustified" and said it has harmed markets and global food security. A spokesperson for Wong said Australia supported the U.S. decision to cancel the photo, adding that the country will not "normalise Russia’s brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine."
The split reflects broader tensions over the Trump administration’s approach to Russia. Diplomats noted that Russia’s position on Ukraine remains inflexible and that disagreements, including over Poland’s bid for G20 membership and the exclusion of South Africa, could hinder the issuance of a joint communique at the summit’s conclusion.
Polish deputy prime minister and foreign minister Radosław Sikorski said reaching consensus would be difficult given the presence of nations involved in ongoing conflicts. Participants said they would strive to overcome differences ahead of the G20 leaders’ summit scheduled for next month in Florida.
Ukraine, a non-member invited to previous meetings, was not invited this year, while South Africa, a founding G20 member, was also absent. A spokesperson for South Africa’s international relations minister Ronald Lamola said the country’s non-participation was not voluntary.