US cancels G20 foreign ministers' family photo after objections over Russia
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the country's top diplomat, has cancelled the family photo of foreign ministers from the G20 in Atlanta, after countries including Australia and the United Kingdom refused to appear beside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, The Guardian reported.
The G20 is a forum of major economies, and its foreign ministers usually pose for a group photo at their meetings. Reuters reported that the ministers skipped the photo ahead of their meeting in Atlanta on Friday, 30 October. A US official said the photo was cancelled after it became clear that some delegations were unwilling to take part in a joint picture, according to BBC News.
The Guardian reported that about one-third of the countries at the talks had indicated they would not appear beside Russian representatives. ABC News reported that Canadian representatives opposed being photographed alongside Lavrov.
Germany's Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, said there would be no family photo with European partners and Lavrov together, because there is no normality with Russia. The United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, said the UK does not engage with the Russians in that way and has not done so for a number of years.
Australia's Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as brutal and unjustified during the G20 opening session, with Lavrov in the room. Australia supported the US decision to cancel the group photo and said it will not normalise Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
