This weekend, Johannesburg is at the center of a diplomatic storm as South Africa hosts the G20 summit for the first time on African soil. The event, which brings together representatives from 19 major economies and the European Union—collectively accounting for 85% of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population—was meant to showcase South Africa’s potential and the priorities of the Global South. Instead, it’s unfolding under the shadow of a high-profile boycott led by U.S. President Donald Trump and a series of pointed disputes over the forum’s direction.
On November 19, 2025, the United States formally warned South Africa against issuing a joint declaration at the G20 summit, citing Washington’s decision to boycott the meeting entirely. According to a diplomatic note obtained by Bloomberg, the U.S. insisted that any outcome must be presented as a “Chair’s Statement” rather than a consensus communiqué. This move, which reflects a sharp disagreement with Pretoria’s push for a more inclusive global governance agenda and stronger representation for developing nations, set the tone for a tense summit.
For those unfamiliar, a Chair’s Statement is a document issued solely by the host or chair when participating countries can’t reach full agreement—a far cry from the unified front typically presented in a consensus communiqué. By insisting on this format, the U.S. signaled it would not endorse several of South Africa’s summit priorities, particularly the agenda for inclusivity and the representation of developing nations. Despite this, Pretoria pressed ahead, determined to secure a joint statement that reflects its vision for solidarity, equality, and sustainability.
President Trump’s absence is more than symbolic. As reported by Reuters and ABC News Australia, the U.S. will not send a single government representative to the summit. Trump’s boycott stems from his repeated claims—widely discredited—that white South African farmers are being persecuted. He’s gone so far as to brand the decision to hold the G20 in South Africa “a total disgrace,” writing on social media, “Afrikaners are being killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated.” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, faced with these accusations, simply responded, “their loss.”
The U.S. president’s absence isn’t the only notable one. Argentine President Javier Milei, a Trump ally, is also boycotting the event on ideological grounds. Russian President Vladimir Putin is skipping the summit due to an International Criminal Court warrant, and China is sending Premier Li Qiang in place of President Xi Jinping. The result? For the first time in G20 history, the world’s most important multilateral economic forum is missing several of its most powerful members.
The diplomatic standoff has real consequences. As Business Insider Africa noted, the absence of the U.S.—the G20’s most influential member—casts doubt on whether there will be a final leaders’ declaration at all. The traditional consensus statement, which has defined G20 summits since their inception nearly 20 years ago, is now in jeopardy. South Africa’s foreign ministry spokesman Chrispin Phiri warned against what he called “coercion by absence,” stating, “We cannot allow coercion by absentia to become a viable tactic. It is a recipe for institutional paralysis and the breakdown of collective action.”
South Africa’s agenda for this year’s summit is ambitious. According to AFP, the country is seeking commitments on debt relief for developing countries and tackling global inequalities under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.” Debt is a central concern: between 2021 and 2023, Africa spent $70 per capita on debt interest payments—more than on education ($63) or health ($44), according to United Nations figures. Ramaphosa is also advocating for the creation of an International Inequalities Panel, modeled after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to address what Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz’s G20 report calls a “global crisis” of wealth inequality that threatens democracy and social cohesion.
Yet, the U.S. has not been shy about its opposition. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio branded South Africa’s G20 agenda “anti-American” earlier this year and skipped one of the first meetings of G20 ministers. The Trump administration has also imposed a 30 percent tariff on South African goods, escalating tensions further. In a broader context, Trump’s boycott of the G20 echoes his earlier decisions not to send an official delegation to the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, and to pursue a more unilateral foreign policy that has rattled the post-war global order.
The summit’s priorities—helping nations adapt to weather disasters, facilitating clean energy transitions, reducing excessive debt costs, and fostering cooperation on critical minerals—are broadly shared by countries like Australia. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is attending the summit, insisted, “The G20 is certainly relevant,” emphasizing Australia’s role as a middle power and the importance of participating in global forums. Treasurer Jim Chalmers echoed these sentiments, noting the summit’s role in bolstering confidence amid global economic uncertainty: “There’s a lot of global economic uncertainty, a lot of risk, a lot of volatility and unpredictability. So that strikes me as the most important thing for the G20 leaders to focus on.”
Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the summit and plans to hold an IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) meeting with Brazilian President Lula and President Ramaphosa, further underscoring the role of emerging economies in shaping the summit’s agenda. Brazil has expressed support for South Africa’s bid for a joint declaration, while some European officials have indicated they may back either a full declaration or a more modest Chair’s Statement.
China, represented by Premier Li Qiang, is expected to advocate for multilateralism, with Li stating at a recent regional summit, “Economic globalisation and multipolarity are irreversible.” Russia’s delegation will be led by President Putin’s economic advisor, Maxim Oreshkin, in the absence of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Despite the diplomatic wrangling, South Africa is pushing to build on the momentum of recent G20 presidencies from the Global South, including Indonesia, India, and Brazil. The summit also marks the end of this cycle, with the United States set to assume the presidency next year. In a twist of irony, President Ramaphosa is meant to hand over the G20 leadership to President Trump—who will not be present. “I don’t want to hand over to an empty chair, but the empty chair will be there,” Ramaphosa remarked, capturing the surreal nature of the moment.
As the summit draws to a close, the world is left watching to see whether South Africa can secure a meaningful joint declaration or whether the absence of key players will undermine collective action. Either way, the events in Johannesburg highlight the growing tensions—and shifting alliances—at the heart of global governance. For many, it’s a test of whether the G20 can adapt to a new era marked by multipolarity, contested values, and the persistent challenge of making sure every nation’s voice is heard.
