The G20 summit in South Africa concluded on Sunday with the United States notably absent after President Donald Trump ordered a boycott over claims of racial persecution, underscoring a significant diplomatic rupture.
The two-day gathering in Johannesburg ended with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa formally closing the event by striking a gavel, a tradition that typically involves handing it over to the next host nation. However, no U.S. delegation was present to accept the symbolic transfer, as the Trump administration had boycotted the summit entirely. This absence was particularly glaring given that the United States is slated to assume the G20 presidency next year. South Africa refused a U.S. proposal for a junior embassy official to attend the handover, deeming it insulting, and the transfer will occur later at the foreign ministry.
The boycott was initiated by Trump, who alleged that South Africa is persecuting its Afrikaner white minority, a claim that has fueled tensions for months. The White House intended for an embassy representative to participate in the handover, but South African officials stated no U.S. delegation was accredited for the summit. This decision deepened a months-long diplomatic rift, with the U.S. opposing South Africa’s agenda focused on climate change and global inequality.
Despite the U.S. opposition, the G20 broke with custom by adopting a comprehensive leaders’ declaration on the opening day of the talks. The 122-point document emphasized urgent actions on climate-related disasters, debt relief for developing nations, and support for transitioning to green energy sources. South Africa hailed this as a victory for its agenda, which aimed to address global inequality from an African perspective, though the declarations are non-binding and their long-term impact is uncertain.
The declaration faced additional resistance from Argentina, whose president, Javier Milei, a Trump ally, also skipped the summit. Nevertheless, it received backing from other major economies, including China, Russia, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Ramaphosa emphasized that the summit successfully placed the priorities of Africa and the Global South at the heart of G20 discussions, with leaders like France’s Emmanuel Macron expressing regret over the U.S. absence but urging continued cooperation.
In a candid moment accidentally broadcast, Ramaphosa was heard saying ‘It was not easy’ after the declaration was adopted, reflecting the challenges of navigating the diplomatic rift. He later publicly praised the outcome as a step forward for international cooperation, even as the U.S. boycott cast a shadow over the proceedings. The summit, the first ever held in Africa, was seen as a symbolic milestone for poorer nations, highlighting their growing influence on global issues.
The G20, formed in 1999 to address global financial crises, operates on consensus and includes 19 nations plus the European Union and African Union. However, its ability to resolve pressing geopolitical issues, such as the war in Ukraine, was limited, with the declaration making only a vague reference to ending conflicts. Macron noted that the bloc is ‘struggling to have a common standard on geopolitical crises,’ underscoring its challenges in achieving unified action.
As the U.S. prepares to host next year’s summit at Trump’s golf club in Florida, the future direction of the G20 remains uncertain, potentially shifting away from the climate and inequality focus championed by South Africa. The event highlighted ongoing tensions in international diplomacy, with implications for how global economic and environmental challenges will be addressed in the coming year.
