(Bloomberg) -- The annual “family photo” at the Group of 20 summit is about showcasing cooperation by world leaders to address the world’s most pressing issues. This year’s group picture in Osaka, Japan, highlighted their divides.
U.S. President Donald Trump was at the center of attention, if not the frame, positioned between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan -- two leaders caught in fierce Washington debates about Middle East tensions. The American president had a chat with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, in the latest of their politically fraught encounters. Close by stood several favorite Trump trade targets, not the least of which was China’s Xi Jinping, who briefly shook hands with the U.S. president.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel -- the fading standard-bearer for the postwar order -- was fittingly positioned on the wing. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May -- on the way out of office after her bruising Brexit battles with European leaders such as nearby French President Emmanuel Macron -- looked over Trump’s shoulder. Even the event’s host, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, shared a frosty handshake with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who he’s been sparring with over a host of historical disputes.
©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
POPULAR