Overview
- Argentina formally declined to back the Johannesburg declaration, citing a breach of the G20’s consensus requirement and objecting to the document’s treatment of the Middle East conflict.
- South Africa asserted that a leaders’ text was adopted at the start of the summit by the other members and later described support as an overwhelming majority.
- The United States boycotted substantive talks after warning it would not support any consensus document negotiated under South Africa’s presidency.
- A protocol dispute flared as Pretoria said President Cyril Ramaphosa would not hand over the G20 presidency to a U.S. chargé d’affaires designated to attend only the closing ceremony.
- The summit ended without a universally endorsed communiqué as the presidency now passes to the United States for 2026.