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2h ago

U.S. Boycott Pushes Johannesburg G20 Toward Chair’s Statement

Pretoria says preparations are complete, with debt relief, climate finance, a just energy transition at the forefront.

Illustrative Image: US President Donald Trump. (Photo: EPA / Francis Chung / Pool) | An overall perspective of the first gathering of the Group of 20 (G20). (Photo: Gallo Images / Misha Jordaan)
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Cartoon showing G20 preparations
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Overview

  • South Africa will host the first G20 Leaders’ Summit on African soil on 22–23 November at the Johannesburg Expo Centre.
  • Washington has notified counterparts it will oppose a consensus Leaders’ Declaration and accept only a Chair’s Statement, a break with practice since leader-level summits began in 2008.
  • President Donald Trump says no U.S. officials will attend, while several other leaders will be represented at lower levels, including China’s premier Li Qiang, Russia’s Maxim Oreshkin and Argentina’s foreign minister Pablo Quirno.
  • Officials say the summit will proceed as scheduled, with the G20 Social Summit running 18–20 November in Ekurhuleni and media logistics and accreditation in place.
  • Analysts warn the boycott could weaken the summit’s impact and compliance with any commitments, though some see scope for middle powers and Global South priorities to shape outcomes.