OTTAWA - Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand voiced her discontent over Russia's participation in a G20 meeting, hosted by the United States on Friday, asserting that Russia should not have been present. During the meeting held in Atlanta, Anand directly addressed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, stating unequivocally that Russia has committed "horrific crimes" during its war against Ukraine. This includes causing severe repercussions on global energy and food supply chains.
Despite the unusual step taken by the American organizers to cancel the traditional group photo due to objections from European diplomats regarding Lavrov's presence, Anand reiterated her stance. She indicated her disinterest in being photographed with Lavrov, expressing the gravity of Russia's actions, including the kidnapping of Ukrainian children and attacks on vessels in the Black Sea. "I was sitting at a table directly across from Sergei Lavrov and I looked him in the eye," she remarked, emphasizing the seriousness of her allegations.
Anand detailed her encounter with Lavrov, who attempted to deflect her criticism by asserting that "We don’t use energy to settle political scores." He accused European nations of “slavery and piracy” in relation to their actions against Russian vessels engaged in oil exports under false pretenses.
Amid rising tensions regarding support for Ukraine, Anand's statements contrast with the recent U.S. stance under President Donald Trump. The previous administration had retracted significant support for Ukraine's defense against Russia's escalating invasion and had even facilitated financial agreements benefiting Moscow's military efforts.
During the G20 meeting, which Anand attended after meetings with EU officials in Montreal, she stressed that a major concern among most G20 countries is maritime security. The disruption of agricultural shipments from Ukraine, resulting from Russian strikes on its grain vessels in the Black Sea, poses a significant threat to food supplies for developing nations. She also drew attention to Iran's drastically reduced shipping activities in response to U.S. actions in the region.
Despite Lavrov's attempt to shift focus away from these pressing issues, Anand pushed for collective agreement among G20 nations, highlighting the need for freedom of navigation in crucial waterways. She pointed out that no country except for Russia opposes ensuring safe passage for agricultural goods.
Additionally, Anand expressed Canada's opposition to the exclusion of South Africa from the upcoming G20 meetings. The U.S. has made unsubstantiated claims regarding a genocide targeting white South Africans, but Anand emphasized the importance of South Africa’s participation, advocating for an inclusive and functional G20 capable of addressing global economic challenges.
Canada and the European Union concluded a significant summit in Montreal just prior to the G20 meeting, coinciding with Canada’s release of its first national security strategy in decades. Anand characterized the current diplomatic efforts as intensive, yielding substantial wins for Canada on the global platform.
Following her attendance at the G20, Anand is scheduled to visit Antigua and Barbuda for the Commonwealth summit, where she will be joined by Prime Minister Mark Carney. She reiterated Canada’s commitment to promoting democracy within the Commonwealth framework, specifically through the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, which addresses human rights issues.
This meeting comes at a pivotal time, reflecting the complex interplay of international diplomacy and the ongoing geopolitical challenges stemming from Russia's actions in Ukraine and wider global implications for energy and food security.
