US cancels G20 photo after European objections to appearing with Lavrov, reports say

The United States cancelled a planned group photograph of G20 foreign ministers in Atlanta on Friday after European diplomats objected to appearing alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Euronews reported. Al Jazeera English also reported the cancellation and European opposition to the photograph.

Several European diplomats had threatened to walk out, according to Euronews. The outlet cited two unnamed US officials as saying Secretary of State Marco Rubio chose to drop the photograph to prevent further controversy. The officials requested anonymity because the matter was sensitive, the report said.

The foreign ministers' meeting itself was to continue as planned, Euronews said. The reported decision therefore concerned the planned photograph, rather than cancellation of the talks in Atlanta, where the ministers were gathering for the G20 discussions.

Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski welcomed the cancellation, calling it “the right decision”, according to Euronews. He said his opposition to appearing in the photograph with Russia's foreign minister was shared: “I am not the only one who does not want to be photographed with Lavrov.”

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also opposed presenting relations with Moscow as routine, while supporting discussion of disagreements at the meeting. Euronews, citing the German news agency dpa, reported that he said “there is no normality with Russia” and “we also must not send falsely optimistic signals.”

The objections to the photograph followed earlier concerns about Russia's participation. Several G20 countries had questioned the invitation before the dispute over the group picture, Euronews reported, linking those concerns to intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine. The report did not identify the countries that had raised objections.

The Atlanta gathering precedes a G20 leaders' summit planned for December, according to Euronews. The outlet reported that US President Donald Trump would host that meeting at his golf club in Miami, with the foreign ministers' talks serving as preparation.