Despite mounting Western pressure to exclude Russia, Indonesia, this year’s G20 president, confirmed on Thursday that Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov will attend next week’s meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors. Wempi Saputra, an official from Indonesia’s finance ministry said, “We don’t have the capacity to not invite (any member).”
The Russian representative’s confirmation comes after Western members of the grouping, including the United States (US), Canada, Australia, and the European Union, made calls to exclude Russia. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned last week that Washington would boycott some G20 meetings if Russian officials show up, and called for Moscow’s expulsion.
“President Biden made it clear, and I certainly agree with him, that it cannot be business as usual for Russia in any of the financial institutions. He’s asked that Russia be removed from the G20, and I’ve made clear to my colleagues in Indonesia that we will not be participating in a number of meetings if the Russians are there,” Yellen asserted.
⚡️European Parliament calls for immediate embargo on Russian oil, gas, coal, nuclear fuel.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) April 7, 2022
The resolution also calls for a special U.N. tribunal for Russia's war crimes, excluding Russia from the G20 and other organizations, and stepping up the delivery of weapons to Ukraine.
In contrast, China has supported Russia’s participation and insisted that the conflict should stay off the meeting’s agenda and that members must stick to economic matters.
In this regard, Yellen said on Wednesday expressed her “fervent” hope that China would use its “pivotal role” and “special relationship” with Russia to persuade it to stop the war. She added that China could not expect the global community “to respect its appeals to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity in the future if does not respect these principles now when it counts.”
Likewise, White House press secretary Jen Psaki countered Beijing’s concerns during a briefing on Wednesday saying that it was “not uncommon for events that are impacting the global community as Ukraine is, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, to play a central role at international forums.” “And their economic recovery and rebuilding and reconstruction is going to be something that the global community is going to be involved in and address,” she added.
However, Jakarta has resisted pressure from different sides and said that it would hold the summit neutrally and impartially. Dian Triansyah Djani, a special staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, reasoned last month that it is “the obligation of the G20 Presidency to invite all members.”
The Minister of Finance of the USA Janet Yellen stated that the US won't participate in the meetings G20 if Russia is a participant. Joe Biden asked to exclude Russia. If this doesn't occur, the US will refuse the list of meetings. pic.twitter.com/ajfYI9rhhc
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) April 8, 2022
These sentiments were echoed by Indonesian finance ministry official Wempi Saputra on Thursday, who confirmed, “As the president, Indonesia has invited all members and as of today, some have confirmed physical attendance and some virtual.” He further noted that the rule applied equally to all members, including Russia’s ministry of finance and central bank.
At the same time, the international community has also called for the inclusion of Ukraine as an observer at this year’s meeting in Bali, as the Ukraine war, which has been ongoing for over a month now, has strained the global economy. Addressing this, Wempi added that Jakarta has considered inviting Ukraine to the meeting, which will be held on April 20 in Washington “to discuss the impact of the conflict in Ukraine on global economic conditions”.
5 other G20 countries apart from India that have abstained include Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
— Gokul Sahni (@Gokul_Sahni) April 7, 2022
More large developing countries that abstained: Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt.
Abstention I didn’t see coming: Singapore. https://t.co/eTiEWCxi6V
Muhaimin Iskandar, a deputy speaker of the Indonesian parliament’s House of Representatives, also defended the government’s decision to include Russia, saying that the current political environment “reminds us to build a new world order that is more peaceful,” where “there is no tension between the West and the East.” “We want Russia to be the main driver of the peace; the locomotive of a new world order that is humane, just, democratic, humanitarian, and peaceful,” Muhaimin said.
Indonesia, which will host another G20 finance meeting in July, has not yet agreed to invite Ukraine to the April meeting. Jakarta has stated that it intends to utilise its G20 leadership to try to resolve global economic problems.