The G20 Leaders' Summit concluded in Johannesburg, South Africa, marking the first time the United States did not attend the gathering of the world's largest economies. This summit was also notable for being the first held on the African continent.
The U.S. administration, under President Trump, did not participate, citing concerns regarding alleged land confiscation from white landowners and the reported killing of white Afrikaners in South Africa. Additionally, the U.S. expressed objections to the summit's focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The summit concluded with a joint declaration agreed upon at the meeting's commencement, a departure from the usual practice of issuing it at the conclusion. South African Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola characterized the event as a success for the host country.
President Cyril Ramaphosa officially closed the meeting, using a ceremonial gavel. Traditionally, the gavel is handed to the leader of the incoming G20 chair country. However, with President Trump's absence, a direct handover did not occur. The U.S. had requested the handover be made to a junior embassy official, a request that South Africa declined, citing a breach of established protocol. The handover between South African and U.S. officials of similar rank is scheduled for the following day.
The U.S. had also advised against issuing a joint declaration, suggesting a "chair's statement" instead. Despite this, President Ramaphosa announced on the opening day that a consensus had been reached, and a joint statement was issued without U.S. input. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly criticized the action, stating Ramaphosa's refusal to facilitate a smooth transition of the G20 presidency.
The declaration included language on climate change, gender equality, and the debt burden on developing nations, aligning with the DEI agenda that the Trump administration had previously objected to. Argentina, represented by officials aligned with President Javier Milei, raised some objections to the declaration's wording, but the document was still issued.
World leaders present, including French President Emmanuel Macron, expressed appreciation for South Africa's G20 leadership. While President Ramaphosa characterized the summit as a success for multilateralism and an opportunity to prioritize issues for the Global South, Macron noted that divisions within the group remained evident.
Discussions on the summit's sidelines also addressed other international conflicts. European leaders released a statement raising concerns about a U.S. peace plan for Ukraine, suggesting it required further development and that proposed limitations on Ukraine's armed forces could leave the country vulnerable. Separately, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed concerns regarding a U.S. military buildup near Venezuela.