United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has criticised German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil over his hostile conduct towards Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at a Group of 20 meeting, according to sources cited by Bloomberg.
Klingbeil and his European counterparts agreed to boycott the official group photograph at the summit if Siluanov was included. As a direct result of their stance, the official G20 photograph was taken without the Russian representative present.
Bessent expressed disappointment with Klingbeil for adopting what he described as an uncompromising and confrontational stance during the discussions. Klingbeil had previously defended the boycott, stating that inviting Siluanov to the meeting was an attempt to normalize relations with Russia.
Bessent also noted that the German finance minister stood up and turned his back while the Russian finance minister was addressing the gathering.
Rising Tensions Between Western Allies
According to the Bloomberg report, the friction between the two ministers highlights increasingly tense relations between European nations and the United States regarding diplomatic strategy and international engagement.
Klingbeil had earlier made it clear that he would not pose in a joint photograph alongside Russia's finance minister. He also expressed gratitude to his European colleagues for ensuring that the official group photo proceeded without Siluanov.
Diplomatic Disputes at Major Economic Summits
The Group of 20 is a premier international forum that brings together finance ministers and central bank governors from 19 countries and the European Union to discuss global economic policy, financial stability, and international growth. Ceremonial elements such as the official group photograph are standard features of these summits, intended to demonstrate multilateral cooperation among participating member states.
Germany represents the largest economy in Europe, while the United States Treasury Department directs American fiscal policy and international economic strategy. Both nations maintain central roles in shaping Western economic policy within international institutions like the G20, although their representatives have displayed differing views on diplomatic protocol when sharing forums with Russian officials.
The disagreement at the meeting underscores how symbolic actions during international assemblies, including participation in joint photographs and listening to delegate presentations, can become central issues during multilateral economic conferences.
