Prime Minister Mark Carney will participate in the traditional group photo with Russian President Vladimir Putin at next week’s APEC summit in Shenzhen, citing respect for the host nation.
The decision places the Canadian leader in the same frame as the Russian president for the first time. While the ongoing war in Ukraine and the February 2022 full-scale invasion have strained international relations, Carney said that Canada’s opposition to Russia is reflected in its broader sanctions policy rather than by boycotting diplomatic protocols.
“Yes, I will participate in the photo out of respect for the host. We’re in Asia,” Carney told [cbc.ca] while on an overseas tour in Manila.
The “family photo” is a long-standing tradition at international summits. Despite the presence of leaders like U.S. President Donald Trump, the inclusion of the Russian president at the APEC summit is a topic of discussion.
Carney defended his participation by highlighting concrete government actions, including a recent move to block Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from entering Canada for the upcoming world junior hockey championship in Alberta.
“Canada stands firmly with Ukraine, firmly with democracy, territorial integrity, rule of law — and all of those put us on the other side of Vladimir Putin’s Russia,” Carney said.
At a G20 ministerial meeting in Atlanta last month, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand chose to opt out of a similar group photo alongside her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.
Because China is not a member of the International Criminal Court, it is not bound by the arrest warrant issued for Putin, allowing for his attendance in Shenzhen. Previous Canadian prime ministers, including Justin Trudeau and Stephen Harper, have participated in these photos with the Russian leader during their tenures.
Beyond the photo, the White House has confirmed plans for a trilateral meeting involving Trump, Xi, and Putin. The meeting follows recent U.S.-brokered discussions regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
When asked about the significance of this trilateral meeting, Carney emphasized that Canada remains committed to its NATO allies. “The security architecture for free Europe will be determined by free Europe, for Europe and NATO, not by Russia,” he said.
Why is the Russian president attending the APEC summit hosted by China? Unlike previous summits held in countries like South Korea, China is not a signatory to the International Criminal Court. This means the host nation is not legally obligated to execute the arrest warrant currently issued against the Russian president. How does Prime Minister Mark Carney justify his participation in a group photo with Vladimir Putin while maintaining Canada’s stance on the war in Ukraine?
Beyond diplomatic participation, the federal government has implemented broad sanctions against Russia. Recent actions include barring Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from entering Canada for the world junior hockey championship in Alberta.
The group photo is a traditional element of diplomatic protocol at international summits, historically used to display unity among participating nations.
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