Overview
- President Donald Trump confirmed no U.S. officials will attend the Nov. 22–23 Johannesburg summit, citing disputed claims of abuses against Afrikaners and prioritizing their refugee admissions.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa said he will symbolically pass the 2026 G20 presidency to an empty chair and insisted the meeting will proceed, calling the U.S. absence the bigger loss.
- Organisers expect roughly 65 delegations, with the African Union and United Nations participating and South Africa pressing a development-focused agenda of debt relief, energy transition and disaster resilience.
- China announced Premier Li Qiang will represent Beijing instead of President Xi Jinping; Russia will send senior official Maxim Oreshkin, and Argentina will be represented by Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno.
- G20 diplomats warn the U.S. no-show could complicate adoption of a leaders’ declaration that traditionally requires consensus, as sherpas work to lock in language before the summit.