Arabic version: وزراء خارجية مجموعة العشرين يتجاوزون الصورة الجماعية بسبب اعتراضات على روسيا

According to ABC News, G20 foreign ministers skipped the traditional group “family” photo before their meeting after European, Australian and Canadian representatives objected to being photographed alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

A US official said the State Department removed the photo from the official agenda on Friday, US time, because Washington did not want it to become a spectacle or distraction. About a third of participants, including Australia and Canada, had made clear they opposed the photograph.

A spokesperson for Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia supported the United States, as G20 host, cancelling the image. The spokesperson said Australia would not normalise Russia’s “brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine” and that its focus remained on G20 work and challenges facing the global economy.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio opened the talks by calling for unity as the world faced interconnected economic and geopolitical crises. He cited disruptions to energy and food supplies, trade and freedom of navigation. Participants said disagreements over Ukraine, the US-Israeli war against Iran, US tariffs, the South China Sea and South Africa’s absence could prevent a joint communique when the meetings end on Saturday.