G20 Summit in South Africa Concludes Amid U.S. Boycott

Mon Nov 24 2025 02:06:13 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The G20 summit in South Africa has wrapped up with a joint declaration focused on multilateral cooperation, despite the absence of U.S. leadership.

The recent G20 summit in South Africa ended with a commitment to multilateral cooperation, addressing significant global issues such as climate change and economic inequality. The meeting faced criticism and controversy, particularly due to the U.S. boycott led by President Donald Trump, who cited unfounded claims about violent land-related issues in South Africa as his reason for abstaining. Leaders present emphasized the resilience of multilateralism and discussed pivotal global challenges, including peace efforts for Ukraine and Sudan.

The G20 summit in South Africa, a gathering of the world's major economies, has ended with a joint declaration committing to multilateral cooperation.

The declaration, which covered climate change mitigation and economic inequality, was adopted despite objections from the U.S., which boycotted the meeting in Johannesburg.

Speaking at the closing ceremony on Sunday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that the agreement reflects shared goals that surpass individual countries' differences.

American President Donald Trump chose to abstain from the G20 due to a widely discredited claim that South Africa's white minority is suffering from large-scale killings and land grabs.

This was the first G20 summit held in Africa, with Indonesia, India, and Brazil hosting in recent years.

The United States is set to host the next G20 summit in 2026, expected to take place at Trump's golf course in Florida.

Although the ceremonial handover of the presidency was not completed at the summit's conclusion, it is anticipated to occur in the coming week among junior officials.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva remarked that Trump's absence was inconsequential, asserting that multilateralism remains more alive than ever.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the U.S. decision to abstain, noting the current realignment of global relationships.

The summit also reached a consensus on pursuing just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in conflicted regions, including Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Prominent Sudanese commentator Saeed Abdalla highlighted the inclusion of Sudan in discussions, describing it as an important acknowledgment of the country's ongoing conflict.