G20 Summit Concludes with Declaration for Cooperation Despite US Boycott
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – The G20 summit in South Africa concluded Sunday with a joint declaration committing member nations to “multilateral co-operation,” addressing issues ranging from climate change mitigation to economic inequality. The agreement was reached despite the absence of the United States,whose delegation was led by a boycott initiated by former President Donald Trump.
This marked the first time the G20 summit was held on the African continent, following previous summits hosted by Indonesia, India, and Brazil over the past three years. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated at the closing ceremony that the agreement demonstrated “shared goals” transcending national differences.
Trump’s decision to abstain stemmed from a widely discredited claim regarding alleged large-scale killings and land grabs targeting South Africa’s white minority population.
The ceremonial handover of the G20 presidency, originally scheduled for Sunday, has been postponed to next week and will be conducted by junior officials. The US is slated to host the G20 in 2026, with plans to hold the summit at Trump’s golf course in Florida.
Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da silva downplayed Trump’s absence,asserting that multilateralism remained “more alive than ever.” German Chancellor Fredriech Merz characterized the US boycott as “not a good decision,” noting a “realignment” of global relationships and the formation of “new connections.”
Delegates also reached consensus on pursuing “just, comprehensive, and lasting peace” in several conflict zones, including Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of congo, and the “Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
Sudanese commentator and journalist Saeed Abdalla highlighted the significance of Sudan’s inclusion in the discussions.”I think for the first time, [at] the G20 now they bring the Sudan conflict [to the forefront] after more than two years,” he told Newzroom Afrika.
