"Russia Must Be Expelled"... After G8, Will G20 Also Oust It? The Key Is BRICs

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Just as Russia was expelled from the Group of Eight (G8) after forcibly annexing the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, could the Group of Twenty (G20) also become the G19?

U.S. President Joe Biden, who visited Europe for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, stated on the 24th (local time) that Russia should be expelled from the G20. However, as in 2014, it is expected that excluding Russia from the G20 will not be easy.

According to the White House, President Biden answered "Yes" when asked at a press conference held at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, whether Russia should be expelled from the G20. He also confirmed that this issue was discussed at the NATO summit. The G20 summit is scheduled to be held in Bali, Indonesia, this November.

To expel Russia from the G20, the consent of all member countries at the finance minister level or higher is essential. Russia was expelled from the G8 after forcibly annexing Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014, but it remains in the G20. This is due to opposition from allied countries centered around the so-called BRICs group, including Brazil, India, China, and South Africa. At that time, these countries issued a statement with Russia saying, "All member countries are equal."

This time as well, it is expected that Russia's close allies will block the move again. President Biden mentioned at the press conference that "if other countries such as Indonesia, the chair country, do not agree, there is a proposal to allow Ukraine to attend the G20 summit as an observer," which is for this reason.

China has already publicly opposed, stating, "No member country has the right to expel another member country." Brazil declared early on that it would not take sides regarding the Ukraine situation. India abstained from the United Nations Security Council statement condemning Russia.

The position of Indonesia, the chair country of this year's G20, is also delicate. Indonesian President Joko Widodo recently supported a ceasefire in an interview with Nikkei Asia but criticized Western economic sanctions. Indonesia has not joined the sanctions against Russia. The Washington Post (WP) reported, "Indonesia has maintained close relations with Russia for a long time." The National News evaluated, "Russia has more potential allies in the G20 than in the G7."

On the other hand, G7 countries and Australia, which was the chair country of the G20 in 2014, are strongly demanding Russia's expulsion this time as well. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently condemned Russia's violation of international law at a press conference, stating, "They have brought isolation upon themselves. No one should have any relations with them."

Russian President Vladimir Putin is known to want to attend the G20 summit held in Indonesia this fall. President Putin also attended the G20 summit held in Brisbane, Australia, in 2014 but had to leave early after being criticized by the leaders of various countries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.