US faces G20 criticism over Russia invitation and press restrictions

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During a two-day G20 meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hosted Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, marking the latter's first in-person attendance at the forum since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The meeting, which aimed to address global economic growth, record debt levels of nearly $353 trillion, and an energy shock linked to the Iran war, faced criticism from European officials regarding Siluanov's presence and the U.S. Treasury's decision to deny media credentials to specific outlets, including Bloomberg News. German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil publicly objected to both the inclusion of the Russian official and the restrictions placed on journalists, labeling the latter as unacceptable.

Consequences

The friction over Russia's invitation and press access led European officials to decline participation in the traditional G20 family photo with Siluanov. Additionally, the diplomatic divergence signals potential challenges for the U.S. in coordinating future sanction packages against Russia with its European counterparts.

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