Expulsion!
Sometimes, when going through a life-changing situation, one is forced to make choices. These choices are not always easy. Often, they’re pretty difficult in nature. And one of those choices has presented itself to the United States and other countries.
Later on this year, there is an event taking place in Bali. This is the G20 meeting, set to happen in October. And reportedly, a defiant Putin plans to attend this summit. In recent weeks, there has been much talk about pushing Russia out of the G20. China disapproves. So do some other countries.
But the United States and other Western nations are pushing for it. Reportedly, Putin is looking forward to attending the meeting. However, there are massive disagreements about what to do. Beijing is defending Russia’s right to remain, arguing the summit is for discussing economic issues and has nothing to do with Ukraine.
China called Russia “an important member.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin spoke out sharply. “No member has the right to remove another country as a member.” But other countries appear to at least be mulling an expulsion over. For example, Poland reportedly suggested that “it replace Russia within the G20 group and that the suggestion had received a positive response.”
If, in fact, countries hold firm on the expulsion of Russia and others are against it, this could lead to a veto. It is not just China. Reportedly India and Saudi Arabia might also be against such an expulsion. There is also talk already of a boycott of the summit by certain countries, including ours, if Russia were to stay as a member.
“If Russia remains a member, it will become a less useful organization.” I agree. National security adviser Jake Sullivan has said it cannot be “business as usual” regarding Russia and the G20. So we do not know what will happen yet. This is a story to watch as undoubtedly there will be quite a bit more news about it in the coming weeks.
This is an example of the types of choices I mentioned at the start of this article. There is no more tragic situation than war. War is hell. And with that hell come the types of choices that are, in reality, delicate situations that must be threaded carefully. Time will tell what the answer is.
