By Salma El-Sakka
The United States cancelled the traditional “family photo” at the G20 foreign ministers meeting in Atlanta after roughly one-third of participating nations, including Australia, the United Kingdom and European Union members, refused to appear alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Boycott Threats Lead to Cancellation
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pulled the photo opportunity after several European officials, the UK and Australia made clear they would boycott or walk out of the snapshot that typically opens such gatherings. Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul had warned there would be “no normality with Russia,” while UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Britain does not engage with Russians in that manner.
Rubio Appeals for Unity
Rubio nonetheless opened the talks with a call for unity on issues threatening international security and trade. “We are in a critical moment,” he told colleagues, citing interconnected economic and geopolitical crises.
Australia Condemns Russian Invasion
During the opening session, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in front of Lavrov, saying the illegal war had disrupted global markets and worsened food security. A spokesperson for Wong said Australia supported the US decision to cancel the group photo and would not normalise Russia’s actions.
Broader Diplomatic Rift
The schism reflects the Trump administration’s effort to reintegrate Russia and President Vladimir Putin into the international community despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. Diplomats described the opening session as cordial but noted Russia’s position on Ukraine remains unyielding, as does its opposition to Poland’s G20 membership. Those disagreements, along with the US decision not to invite G20 founding member South Africa, will likely prevent a joint communique when the meetings conclude.
Poland and South Africa Absent
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski attended as a guest for the first time, acknowledging the difficulty of reaching consensus with war participants at the table. Ukraine, not a G20 member, was not invited this year, while South Africa’s absence followed disputes with the Trump administration that led top US officials to shun its G20 chairmanship last year.
