Out of picture: Biden, Trudeau and Meloni miss ‘family photo’ at G20

Under sunshine and clear blue skies against a picture-perfect backdrop of Rio’s iconic Sugarloaf Mountain, the Group of 20 leaders gathered for their “family photo”. There was just one snag: US President Joe Biden was missing. The traditional photo opportunity descended into farce on Monday when Biden, Canada PM Justin Trudeau and Italian premier Giorgia Meloni were absent from the lineup.
That only became clear, though, once Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had posed for the snap with the other world leaders, after which they dispersed for further talks. Was it perhaps an act of protest against the presence of Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, who was standing in for President Putin? Or had some bilateral meetings run late? In the end, it seems it was down to disorganisation.
A US official blamed logistical issues and said the “family photo” was taken early. Biden’s absence wasn’t an act of protest, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The Brazilian organizers say Biden and the others were late. They may try to herd all the leaders together again for a reshoot – which would be a first in the history of the G-20.
But the symbolism was unmistakable. The West appeared in disarray. That allowed China’s Xi Jinping to stroll in and take center stage. Brazil’s Lula was flanked by the previous G20 host – India’s Narendra Modi – and the next one – South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa. Argentina’s Javier Milei, who has been a thorn in Lula’s side, was lurking just behind him and next to France’s Emmanuel Macron. Lavrov was safely tucked away at the back next to his Saudi counterpart.
UK PM Keir Starmer walked out into the sun alone. Earlier he’d irked Xi by publicly chiding China on human rights and Taiwan. The chill between the two was palpable as they studiously avoided contact, separated only by Australian PM Anthony Albanese.
The adage that a picture is worth a thousand words couldn’t be truer when it comes to the annual G20 family photo. Since its foundation in 1999, this snapshot in time tells the story of the rise and fall of collaboration between the world’s most powerful economies.
The plan today was to invite everyone and paper over the cracks in global diplomacy. Lula literally hoped to drown out the differences by having more people in the frame. Instead, as Xi was holding hands with fellow leaders and smiling, Meloni came to realise she and Trudeau were missing out. As per a pool report, she gasped and said “The photo!”