US cancels G20 ‘family photo’ after Europeans, Australia object to Russia

Atlanta: The US was forced to cancel the traditional “family photo” of foreign ministers at the G20 in Atlanta after diplomats from around the world refused to appear alongside Russia’s Sergey Lavrov, who is attending at the invitation of the American hosts.

The photo had been scheduled for 10am Friday (Atlanta time) but did not take place. There was no statement from the US about the cancellation, but an official said they did not want the issue to become a distraction.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong made it known she would not participate in a photograph with Lavrov, a source with knowledge of the matter said. Reuters reported Canada also objected, citing a diplomat familiar with the situation. Wong was contacted for comment.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said ahead of Friday’s session: “In no case will there be a family photo with European partners and Mr Lavrov together because … there is no normalcy with Russia.”

Later, Wadephul posted a photograph of himself embracing Wong, and praised the free trade deal between Australia and the European Union, which the government is trying to ratify over Coalition objections.

British Foreign Minister Ed Milliband had also signalled that he would not participate in a family photo with Lavrov. “We do not engage in that way with the Russians and have not for a number of years,” he said.

The incident in Atlanta is the latest fallout from the Trump administration’s attempt to reintegrate Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, into the global economy and community despite the ongoing war against Ukraine, which Putin started.

President Donald Trump recently waived new sanctions that were set to apply to Russia and its trading partners as a result of legislation championed by the late Republican senator Lindsey Graham.

He also announced plans to buy 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel, and millions more at a later date – although it was not clear Moscow could fulfil the order, with production battered by Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Trump also invited Putin to the G20 leaders’ meeting in Miami in December. It is not clear whether the Russian leader will attend.

On Friday in Atlanta, Lavrov was seated between Mexico and Saudi Arabia, and on the opposite side of the plenary table to Wong.

In addition to meeting Wadephul, Wong was due to meet with Argentinian Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and the high representative from the EU, Kaja Kallas.

On Saturday, Wong will attend a meeting of the Quad with India, Japan and the US. She is also due to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and participate in a trilateral meeting with the UK and Canada.

Rubio opened the summit by saying the world was in a “moment of choosing”, confronted by 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,” he said at the beginning of the first plenary session, before reporters were evicted.

“The G20 must work together to confront these threats.”