G20 Opens in Johannesburg Without U.S., Leaders Weigh Final Declaration

Overview

• The first G20 hosted on African soil began on November 22 with leaders including Narendra Modi, Emmanuel Macron and Li Qiang in attendance, as the United States boycotts and China and Russia send senior envoys.
• Negotiators reported a final draft text for leaders, but it remains uncertain whether it will be adopted as a consensus declaration given Washington’s absence and warnings against issuing a statement in the G20’s name.
• Host priorities center on debt relief for poorer nations, climate and disaster resilience, just energy transitions, critical minerals and tackling widening global inequality.
• On the sidelines, the European Union announced a new critical minerals agreement with South Africa, and Modi held bilaterals including talks with Australia that highlighted cooperation in defence, nuclear energy and trade.
• Despite the boycott, the United States will take over the next G20 presidency, with an embassy representative expected to attend the formal handover in Johannesburg.