US Irks G20 Ministers by Welcoming Back Russia and Barring Journalists

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Asheville: The United States sparked anger among international delegates at the G20 finance summit after bringing Russia back to the table and blocking several major news outlets from covering the event.

The unexpected presence of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov marked his first in-person attendance at a G20 meeting since Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022. The move dismayed European officials, who raised serious concerns over Washington's signals on anti-Russian sanctions and refused to participate in the traditional official group photograph alongside him.

Tensions were further heightened by the US Treasury’s decision to deny media credentials to journalists from leading organizations, including Bloomberg News, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times. European leaders condemned the exclusion, calling access restrictions to the summit unacceptable.

The controversies overshadowed Washington’s primary objective for the summit: steering discussions toward boosting global economic growth, dismantling regulatory hurdles, and tackling global trade imbalances.

Pic Credit: AFP