US cancels G20 group photo after Russian envoy's presence causes friction

The United States dropped plans for an official group photo at the G20 foreign ministers meeting in Atlanta on Friday. U.S. officials said the decision followed objections from several European diplomats who did not want to be photographed alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Some of those European envoys threatened to leave the photo entirely. Rubio, who is chairing the two-day session, determined the controversy would distract from the agenda. The meeting is scheduled for Friday and Saturday and sets the stage for a leaders' summit in December.

The gathering takes place against a backdrop of sharp disagreements among the world's largest economies. Key points of tension include the war in Ukraine, the conflict involving Israel and Iran, U.S. tariffs, and disputes in the South China Sea. These issues have driven up global fuel costs and created uncertainty in trade. U.S. officials identify freedom of navigation as their top priority. They want to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, the Black Sea, and the South China Sea. The presence of new U.S. military intervention in Iran looms over the discussions, putting regional members like Saudi Arabia on edge.

Russia's attendance has caused additional strain. The U.S. invited Moscow during its heightened attacks on Ukraine, a move that drew concern from some G20 countries. Russia's foreign ministry said visa issues for its delegation were resolved at the last minute. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed the delays created an impression that not everyone in Washington was happy about Lavrov's visit. She said he would use the forum to push for the swift reform of global economic institutions and to promote a multipolar world. Lavrov has traveled rarely to NATO member states since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine, which attended previous meetings, was not invited this year. U.S. officials said they chose to include only formal members. South Africa, the only African country in the group, is also absent. A spokesperson for South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, Phindile Kunene, told the Associated Press that the country's nonparticipation was not voluntary. South Africa said it is ready to participate on an equal footing when Britain takes over the presidency next year.

The State Department says Rubio views the event as a chance to advance practical cooperation on shared economic and security challenges. His focus is on solving geopolitical crises that contribute to global economic shocks. Elaine Dezenski, head of the Center on Economic and Financial Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, described the meeting as a test. She said the U.S. must determine if it can build cooperation with partners when full consensus is out of reach. The U.S. has previously shown success in building coalitions outside the G20 framework to advance its foreign policy goals.

Ian Kelly, a former U.S. ambassador to Georgia, noted that Lavrov's attendance creates domestic political problems for President Trump. This occurs just days before the midterm elections. Kelly said Republican lawmakers are already worried about losing their majorities and view Trump's conciliatory approach to Putin with suspicion. He added that the invitation will likely hurt efforts to produce a unified approach on the Russia-Ukraine war among Western members. The next major step is the G20 leaders' summit hosted by Trump at his Miami golf club in December.