Diplomatic divisions have overshadowed a major gathering of the world's leading economies after G20 foreign ministers failed to reach consensus on several critical international security issues during their meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.
The two-day meeting is expected to conclude without a joint communiqué. Instead, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to issue a chairman's statement summarising the discussions.
One of the most visible signs of disagreement emerged when Rubio cancelled the traditional group photograph after European diplomats objected to appearing alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The meeting has been complicated by disagreements surrounding Russia's war against Ukraine, the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran, American tariffs and China's activities in the South China Sea.
Participants also discussed freedom of navigation in strategically important waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and the Black Sea.
Despite the disagreements, diplomats indicated that countries remained interested in ensuring the success of the upcoming G20 leaders' summit scheduled for December.
The developments highlight the difficulty of achieving international cooperation when major powers remain divided over security, trade and geopolitical interests.
