U.S. scraps G20 photo after Europeans object to being pictured with Russia's Lavrov
The U.S. cancelled the traditional G20 group photo in Atlanta after European diplomats threatened to boycott the session due to the presence of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The incident highlights deep geopolitical divisions within the G20 regarding the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Why it matters
The cancellation underscores the increasing difficulty of maintaining diplomatic consensus and traditional international protocols amidst global geopolitical polarization.
Atlanta The U.S. scrapped plans for a photo of top diplomats of the Group of 20 largest world economies on the opening day of talks on Friday (October 30, 2026) as several Europeans objected to being photographed with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and threatened to walk out of the photo session. The cancellation of the photograph, a traditional opening event at such a diplomatic gathering, underscored the deep rifts in the G20 over global crises that threaten international security and trade. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio decided to cancel the photo after determining that the controversy would be a distraction, according to two U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Also covering this story
5 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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