Overview
- White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed that the United States will not take part in official G20 talks, rejecting President Cyril Ramaphosa’s claim of a late U.S. shift.
- China and Russia are sending deputies—Premier Li Qiang for Xi Jinping and presidential aide Maxim Oreschkin for Vladimir Putin—while Argentina’s Javier Milei and Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum will not attend.
- German leaders will participate, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz traveling to Johannesburg and Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil expressing regret over the U.S. absence and signaling modest expectations.
- South Africa is pressing for a consensus text and foregrounding debt relief, climate action and development priorities despite reduced head‑of‑state participation.
- Officials and analysts caution that agreement on a joint declaration is uncertain, with members weighing how to proceed as the U.S. prepares to assume the G20 presidency next year.