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.

DSA Democrats Praise This ‘Socialist Model’ – Communist Cuba’s Power Grid Collapses

Watch: MAGA Takes Victory Lap as CNN Is Forced to Read Trump’s WH Ban on Air

Newsom signs bills to prevent Trump from ‘dictatorial control’ over California elections

Trump announces new ‘AI Force,’ vows to protect industry as AI czar announcement nears

Who is Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan?

Riyadh airport explosion prompts Saudi Arabia to issue air raid alerts as Houthi fighting escalates

LA homelessness fraud cases expose deeper problem than stolen millions, oversight hawk warns

Netflix Won’t Be Faithfully Adapting the Last ‘Narnia’ Book Any Time Soon: The Islamic-Seeming Villains Stage a Religious Takeover – Sound Familiar?

Cuba’s power grid collapses as US embargo pressures regime

Soros Prosecutor Dropped His Gun Charges: 1 Year Later, He Was Charged with Murder

Doxxed Holdout Clancy Juror Moved to Undisclosed Location for His Safety After ‘Black Republican’ Faces Backlash

Data Centers Are About to Burn More US Natural Gas Than Almost Every Country on Earth

Congressman Tom Barrett: ‘Being a socialist should disqualify him for people’s consideration in my district’

Philly serial killer probe could expose larger network behind apparent ‘snuff’ films, expert says

Lawyer says 250-foot Trump arch disrupts historic sightlines cherished by veterans seeking burial at Arlington

See also Barry Melrose, 1956-2026

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.