U.S. scraps G20’s opening photo after Europeans balk at posing with Russia’s Lavrov
“It seems politically boneheaded to invite him,” said Kelly, who now teaches international relations and diplomacy at Northwestern University outside Chicago.
The U.S. has decided to cancel a planned photo of leading diplomats in the Group of 20 (G20) during the opening day of their talks, following objections from several European countries. The cancellation, deemed necessary by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stems from a controversy over posing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
This decision emphasizes the significant rifts within the G20, which is meeting in Atlanta to prepare for a leaders' summit in December hosted by President Donald Trump. The meeting aims to address pressing global issues, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, tensions between the U.S. and Iran, and concerns related to U.S. tariffs and Chinese behavior in the South China Sea.
Russia's involvement at the G20 has been contentious, with some countries expressing reservations due to Moscow's actions in Ukraine and its strained relations with the West. Despite these challenges, the G20 continues to grapple with its mission to foster cooperation and consensus amid a myriad of international crises.
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