History was made this weekend as the Group of 20 (G20) summit convened for the first time on African soil, gathering world leaders and top officials at an exhibition center near South Africa’s iconic Soweto township. The summit, held on November 23 and 24, 2025, was marked by an ambitious agenda focused on the world’s poorest nations — but also by a glaring absence: the United States, whose boycott fueled a diplomatic rift that loomed large over the proceedings.
South Africa, holding the rotating presidency, set out to address some of the globe’s most persistent challenges. The host country urged fellow G20 members to commit to helping poor nations recover from climate-related disasters, tackle crushing foreign debt, transition to green energy, and tap into their own reserves of critical minerals. The overarching goal? To bridge the ever-widening gap of global inequality. According to AP, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres summed up the stakes: “We’ll see… But I think South Africa has done its part in putting those things clearly upon the table.”
Yet, as the summit opened, it was impossible to ignore the diplomatic storm swirling in the background. President Donald Trump ordered a U.S. boycott, citing allegations that South Africa’s government was pursuing racist anti-white policies and persecuting its Afrikaner minority — a claim that South African officials have strongly denied. The boycott not only deepened a months-long rift between the two nations but also threatened to overshadow the summit’s progressive agenda.
Despite the tension, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his team pressed forward. In a break from tradition, leaders adopted a sweeping 122-point declaration at the very start of the summit — rather than at its close — and did so unanimously among those present. The declaration, as reported by AP, called for urgent global action on issues that hit poor countries hardest, such as climate-fueled disasters and burdensome sovereign debt. South Africa touted the declaration as a triumph for the continent’s first G20 summit.
Not everyone was on board, however. Argentina, whose president Javier Milei did not attend in solidarity with President Trump, declined to endorse the declaration. Instead, Argentina was represented by Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, signaling a rare fracture in G20 unity. Still, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya maintained that consensus had “emerged,” and the host government was determined not to let dissent derail the summit’s momentum.
The G20 itself is a unique bloc, comprising 19 nations, the European Union, and the African Union — 21 members in total. Since its formation in 1999 as a bridge between rich and poor nations during global financial crises, the G20 has grown in stature. Today, its members account for roughly 85% of the world’s economy, 75% of international trade, and more than half the global population. But as AP notes, its decisions are based on consensus, not binding resolutions, making agreement a perennial challenge given the divergent interests of countries like the U.S., Russia, China, India, Japan, and leading European powers.
This year, those divisions were especially pronounced. South African officials revealed that the U.S. had pressured them not to issue a leaders’ declaration in the absence of an American delegation, suggesting instead a toned-down statement from the host country. President Ramaphosa, however, pushed back forcefully, declaring, “we will not be bullied.” The message was clear: South Africa would not allow external pressure to dictate the summit’s outcome.
There was also a touch of unscripted drama. As Ramaphosa prepared to move the declaration forward, his remarks — “to adopt our declaration now” — were accidentally broadcast before cameras were turned off for what was supposed to be a closed-door discussion. South Africa’s foreign minister quickly intervened, and Ramaphosa joked, “OK. I’m told that the cameras are still on. They should be off.” The moment, caught by AP, offered a brief, human glimpse into the high-stakes choreography of global diplomacy.
While the U.S. boycott dominated headlines, many leaders were eager to move on and focus on the substance of the summit. French President Emmanuel Macron, for instance, expressed regret over President Trump’s absence but insisted, “it should not block us. Our duty is to be present, engage and work all together because we have so many challenges.” His sentiment was echoed by other European leaders, who joined South Africa in pushing for bold action on climate change and inequality — two themes that have often met resistance from the U.S. in recent years.
On the sidelines, the summit also became a forum for urgent discussions about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Leaders and officials from France, Germany, the U.K., Canada, and Japan gathered to mull over a U.S.-proposed peace deal, which had been drawn up in coordination with Russia. The plan, however, faced immediate skepticism. In a joint statement, the EU, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the U.K. declared the proposal “a basis which will require additional work,” stressing that “borders must not be changed by force.” Further talks were scheduled for Switzerland the following day, underscoring the complexity and urgency of the conflict.
As the summit drew to a close, attention turned to the formal handover of the G20 presidency from South Africa to the United States. The White House made clear that the only American role at this summit would be a representative from the U.S. Embassy in South Africa attending the ceremony. South Africa bristled at what it saw as a diplomatic slight. “It’s an insult for Ramaphosa to hand over to a junior diplomatic official,” South African officials told AP. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Chrispin Phiri added, “We have communicated to the American government that the president will not be handing over to a junior official of the embassy,” hinting that the ceremony might not take place at all.
Looking ahead, the direction of the G20 is likely to change sharply as the U.S. assumes the rotating presidency. The Trump administration has made no secret of its opposition to the current focus on climate change and inequality, raising questions about future priorities and the ability of the bloc to maintain its fragile consensus.
In the end, the Johannesburg summit was a study in contrasts: bold ambition and persistent discord, historic firsts and diplomatic snubs, unity among many and defiance from a few. But for South Africa and its allies, the adoption of a strong leaders’ declaration — and the determination not to be bullied — marked a significant step forward in the ongoing struggle to give the world’s poorest nations a seat at the table.
