G20 leaders meet in South Africa seeking agreement, despite U.S. boycott

Leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies convened in South Africa on Saturday for a G20 summit notably boycotted by the United States, as members sought to finalise a draft declaration prepared without U.S. involvement — a move a senior White House official condemned as “shameful.”

Diplomats from the G20 had reached agreement on a draft communiqué ahead of the weekend gathering in Johannesburg, with climate change featuring prominently among the agenda items, according to four sources familiar with the talks. One source confirmed late on Friday that the document includes references to climate change, despite objections from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, which disputes the scientific consensus on human-caused global warming.

President Trump has opted to boycott the summit, citing widely discredited allegations that South Africa’s Black-majority government discriminates against its white minority. He has also rejected the host nation’s focus on fostering solidarity and supporting developing countries in adapting to extreme weather events, transitioning to clean energy, and reducing their debt burdens.

The boycott has cast a shadow over President Cyril Ramaphosa’s plans to highlight South Africa’s leadership in global diplomacy. However, analysts suggested the absence of Washington might actually strengthen the summit’s impact if other members rally behind its goals and advance a meaningful agreement.

It remains unclear what compromises were necessary to secure consensus on the final language. The United States had opposed any mention of climate or renewable energy, and several other nations have historically been hesitant to engage on the issue.

Three of South Africa’s four key priorities for the summit — preparing for climate-related disasters, funding the shift to green energy, and ensuring that producers benefit from the growing demand for critical minerals — are directly linked to climate action. The fourth centres on establishing a fairer lending system for low-income countries.

The United States is scheduled to host the G20 in 2026, but Ramaphosa quipped that he would be handing over the rotating presidency to an “empty chair.” South Africa rejected a White House proposal to send the U.S. chargé d’affaires to perform the ceremonial handover.

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