In light of Washington's efforts to increase pressure on Iran, the participation of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov in the G20 meeting sparked European dissatisfaction due to the war in Ukraine. The meetings were also clouded by disagreements over US tariffs and trade tension with Canada.

Published on: 01/09/2026 - 04:59 Last updated: 01/09/2026 - 10:57

The attendance of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at the G20 finance ministers' meeting in the United States sparked dissatisfaction with Washington's European partners on Monday, at a time when the administration of President Donald Trump is seeking to mobilize international support for its economic war on Iran.

This year, the United States chairs the G20, which includes major economies including China, India, Japan, and France. The meeting, which continues until Tuesday, will be held in Asheville, North Carolina, with the participation of finance ministers and central bank governors.

Washington is pressing to isolate Iran

US Treasury Secretary Scott Besent intends to use the meetings to promote Washington's policies, especially easing regulatory restrictions, in addition to pushing other countries towards increasing Tehran's isolation.

Besant was assigned to lead an economic campaign against Iran based on sanctions, after Washington failed to get the Islamic Republic to respond to its demands through military means.

He said before the opening of the first session: “We will continue to put pressure on Tehran. We have already had good discussions here,” hours after the renewed exchange of bombing between the United States and Iran for the first time in a month.

In the same context, the European Union expressed its willingness to tighten its sanctions on Iran.

Siluanov's participation angers Europeans over the Ukraine war

But the group's meetings witnessed tension due to the Russian war in Ukraine, after Siluanov participated in the meeting and met with Picent separately to discuss the Ukrainian file, without announcing his presence in advance.

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil criticized the participation of his Russian counterpart, saying that he informed him during the plenary session that the Russian government must end the war, stressing his country's support for Ukraine.

Klingbeil, along with representatives of other European countries, requested that Siluanov be excluded from the group photo of the participants scheduled for Tuesday, which the host agreed to.

The German minister considered that receiving Siluanov "sends a worrying message," adding that he would have preferred Washington to clarify that the Russian minister "is not an ordinary guest."

On the other hand, White House spokesman Kush Desai said that Trump and his administration “are not afraid of dialogue with decision-makers” with the aim of ending the war in Ukraine.

According to a source familiar with the Besant-Siluanov talks, the US Treasury Secretary assured his Russian counterpart that Washington “will not grant Russia any economic reprieve as long as the war in Ukraine continues.”

Trade war with Canada

US tariffs were another point of contention during the meetings. Although the Supreme Court invalidated most of it, the Trump administration does not intend to abandon its policy of imposing duties on imports, at a time when the trade dispute with Canada is escalating.

Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne confirmed that he attended the meeting with a "positive mindset" and was ready for dialogue.

G20 and tension over media coverage

The G20 includes 19 countries in addition to the European and African Unions, and was established after the Asian financial crisis in 1997-1998 to enhance global economic and financial stability.

Washington excluded South Africa from this year's meetings, while the Brazilian Finance Minister was absent from the summit, while Poland, which is not a member of the group, was invited to all meetings in recognition of its rapid economic growth.

Media coverage arrangements, in turn, sparked criticism after Bloomberg and the New York Times reported that their journalists did not obtain the necessary permits. The Treasury Department responded that it had accredited about 300 media professionals, stressing that it was waiting for coverage “based on facts.”

The G20 meeting session concludes in mid-December with a summit of heads of state at Trump's luxury golf resort in Miami, Florida.

France 24/AFP

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