Beneath The Smiles and Handshakes, Tensions Simmer As World Leaders Meet For G20

After converging in Osaka, Japan amid heavy rains, world leaders gathered on Friday morning for the traditional “family photo” that marks the start of the

Group of 20 powwow.

But beneath the smiling faces of the world’s most powerful people, tensions were brewing.

The year-long trade war between Beijing and Washington put the spotlight on Chinese President Xi Jinping, who made a beeline to shake hands with his US counterpart Donald Trump before the group picture, ahead of their high-stakes meeting on Saturday. It was the first time the two leaders had met in person since they called a truce on tariffs in December at the last G20 summit in Argentina – a ceasefire that ended last month as trade talks stalled.

In contrast, Xi and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were seen later in the day sitting together but not talking, amid frosty relations between the two countries.

Moments before the shoot, Trump had crossed the red carpet with Vladimir Putin, at one point placing his hand on the Russian president’s back as they walked to the steps for the photo. The 38 world leaders took their places in three rows, with host Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the centre of the first – flanked on the left by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Trump, and on the right by Argentine President Mauricio Macri, Putin and Xi.

Watch: US Soccer Player Takes Possibly Worst Dive Ever Caught on Camera After Mexico Player Barely Taps Him

Child Dies After Freak Accident in Playground Tube Slide

Denver man’s escape exposes chilling Tren de Aragua kidnapping plot that lands trio in prison

Former TV anchor who pleaded guilty to killing mother last Halloween gets life sentence

‘Cornell 7’ Member Turns Accusations Around, Says He Was the Victim and Jane Doe Was the Perpetrator

Trump says Putin call coming ‘very soon’ as US tracks suspected plague death in Russia

Ex-CIA official admits to $194 million fraud scheme involving gold bars

Cornell Appoints Former Acting Attorney General Who Was Fired by Trump for Insubordination to Lead Investigation

Foreign adversaries running ‘psyop’ to fuel anti-AI and anti-data center movement, war official says

Veterans of ‘unbearable’ Chinese factory in Ohio detail brutal work conditions amid top Dem’s oversight visit

GOP Sen. Thom Tillis Sucks Up to ‘The View’ by Threatening to Dox Trump’s Personal Phone Number

Watch: Scary Moment as Usha Vance and Infant Nearly Fall from Helicopter Stairs as Servicemen Refuse to Move

Unearthed social media posts contradict El-Sayed’s ‘capitalist’ narrative

Christa Pike now conscious and talking after surviving 2 doses of lethal injection drug: report

Delta Air Lines jet clips Air Canada plane on Los Angeles International Airport tarmac

Across the sea of men – including a stern-looking Trump – mostly in black and navy suits, British Prime Minister Theresa May stood out in a bright red suit, the same one she wore when announcing her resignation last month.

The G20, an event critics say has lost relevance in recent years, comes at a time of growing populism and polarisation around the globe – from political schisms in Europe to American protectionism under Trump and the intensifying US-China conflict.

At a forum dedicated to international economic cooperation, the handshakes and shoulder-rubbing could not mask the growing divisions in the global trading system, with the trade war between Beijing and Washington at the forefront.

After a more traditional photo, Abe directed the leaders to wave at the camera, during which the US president broke with the others in lifting their arms, instead turning to the Saudi prince to exchange a few words. Tensions briefly flared between the US and Saudi Arabia after the Saudi prince was accused of orchestrating the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October.