The US and other Western nations are considering a move to potentially exclude Russia from the G20, Reuters has reported, citing sources.
The news agency also said that Poland on Tuesday had suggested to US officials that it replace Russia in the group, and that they received a “positive response”.
The G20 is a grouping of the world’s largest economies which aims to coordinate action on issues affecting the global economy, including climate change and development.
Such a push would add to the existing economic sanctions against Russia from the West. But it would also likely be vetoed by other key G20 nations- including China, India and Saudi Arabia, analysts suggest.
As a result, some predict that the G7 Western allies might instead boycott G20 meetings this year – something that Indonesia, the current chair of the club, has reportedly been warned about. Jakarta has declined to comment on the matter.
When asked about it on Tuesday, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said: “We believe it cannot be business as usual for Russia in international institutions and in the international community.”
Russia also used to be part of the G7 – which was expanded to the G8 in the 2000s – to accommodate Moscow in friendlier times. But it was kicked out after it annexed Crimea in 2014.
