The American strategy against Russia has for two months included an important diplomatic component, beyond the economic sanctions and the military support given to Ukraine. It is a question of making Moscow infrequent on the international level. This explains the decision of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to boycott several multilateral meetings scheduled for this week in Washington, as part of the G20 group. By refusing any return to normal, in view of the summit scheduled for mid-November in Indonesia, the Biden administration wants to place the States concerned before their responsibilities. But neither China nor India are following her in her desire to turn Russia into a pariah. And the Indonesian presidency has clearly refused to exclude Moscow from the meetings.
The decision of M.me Yellen therefore appears essentially symbolic. The American official took part, on Wednesday April 20, in the opening session, in the presence of her Ukrainian counterpart, Serhii Marchenko, an exceptional guest. Then, when the Russian Finance Minister, Anton Silouanov, was to intervene by video link, Janet Yellen got up and left the room, accompanied among others by the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, Chrystia Freeland, and the President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde. From a distance, other ministers and central bank governors switched off their cameras. Once again, Americans and Europeans wanted to present a united front against Russia. Mr. Silouanov is on the list of American sanctions, as a member of the Security Council of his country.
Asked on March 23 about a possible exclusion of Russia from the G20, the American national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, had put forward the necessary coordination with the allies of the United States. He added that there could be no question of a ” business as usual for Russia in international institutions and in the international community”. The following day, in Brussels, President Joe Biden specified that, if the exclusion of Russia from the G20 “could not be done” because of the opposition of some states, then Ukraine should be able to participate in the meetings.
Difficult consensus
Unlike the G7 format, which brings together countries close to the United States and displays more cohesion, the G20 represents a more diverse and less politically unified forum, where Washington cannot easily impose its views, with its European allies. After the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, the latter had been sidelined from the G8, which became G7, but not from the G20, which was much more divided on the issue. Despite the seriousness and scale of the war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine, the many diplomatic exchanges that have taken place between the capitals in recent weeks have failed to bring about a consensus.
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