World News
US cancels G20 family photo after Australia, UK and European refusals
European and Australian refusals to stand beside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov led to the cancellation at the Atlanta gathering.
The short version
- The US canceled the traditional opening family photo at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta after several countries refused to appear beside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly scrapped the photo to keep it from becoming a spectacle or distraction.[Deutsche Welle]
- Germany's foreign minister said no photo would include European partners and Lavrov together, and a British official cited a longstanding policy against bilateral engagement with Russian ministers; Australia backed the cancellation.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- South Africa, a G20 founding member, was not invited, and its government says its nonparticipation was not voluntary; the reason remains unexplained in the reporting.[The Guardian]
Key facts
- The US canceled the traditional opening family photo at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta after Australia, the UK and European officials refused to appear beside Lavrov.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- Rubio reportedly scrapped the photo before the meeting to avoid it becoming a spectacle or distraction.[Deutsche Welle]
- Germany's foreign minister Johann Wadephul said there would be no photo with European partners and Lavrov together, citing a lack of normal relations with Russia.[The Guardian]
- A British official said the UK has a longstanding policy against direct, bilateral engagement with Russian ministers since the invasion of Ukraine.[BBC News]
- A spokesperson for Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia supported the US decision to cancel the photo.[The Guardian]
- South Africa, a G20 founding member and the only African country in the group, was not on the meeting's invitation list.[The Guardian]
- A South African spokesperson said the country's nonparticipation was not voluntary.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- Reporting does not explain why South Africa was left off the invitation list.[The Guardian]
- Rubio's reasons for scrapping the photo come from one outlet's reporting rather than a direct on-record quote.[Deutsche Welle]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.