In a significant diplomatic development, G20 envoys have successfully negotiated a draft leaders' declaration for the upcoming Johannesburg summit without participation from the United States. The agreement was reached on Friday, just days before the November 22-23 gathering that marks the first G20 summit hosted on African soil.
US Boycott Over Climate Change Disagreements
The administration of US President Donald Trump has confirmed it will boycott the important international meeting due to fundamental disagreements with host nation South Africa. The boycott stems from Trump's rejection of South Africa's agenda which focuses on promoting global solidarity, assisting developing nations with climate adaptation, transitioning to clean energy, and addressing excessive debt burdens.
Trump had previously stated he would not attend the African-hosted summit, citing unsubstantiated allegations about South Africa's Black majority government persecuting its white minority - claims that have been widely debunked by international observers and fact-checking organizations.
Climate Change References Included Despite US Opposition
In a clear defiance of Washington's position, G20 countries have incorporated direct references to "climate change" in the draft declaration, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. This inclusion comes despite earlier objections from the United States, which had opposed any mention of climate change in the final document.
The White House responded strongly to the development, calling the draft declaration "shameful" in an official statement. A senior Trump administration official criticized the South African government for departing from what they described as "longstanding G20 tradition to issue only consensus deliverables."
South Africa's Climate-Focused Agenda
South Africa had planned four primary agenda items for the summit, with three directly addressing climate-related concerns:
- Preparing for climate-induced weather disasters
- Financing the transition to green energy
- Ensuring critical mineral extraction benefits producer nations
Analysts note that despite concerns about the absence of the G20's most powerful member potentially derailing the declaration, the South African hosts remained determined to advance their climate-focused agenda. The country saw an opportunity to set meaningful priorities for global leaders despite Trump's well-documented hostility toward multilateral diplomacy.
President Cyril Ramaphosa had earlier expressed resignation about the US absence, stating he expected to hand over to an "empty chair" during proceedings. While Ramaphosa mentioned ongoing discussions with the United States about potential participation, the White House later denied any such negotiations were taking place.
The diplomatic tensions extended to procedural matters as well, with South Africa's presidency rejecting the White House's offer to send the US charge d'affaires for the G20 handover ceremony. The sources declined to specify what concessions were necessary in the declaration's language to achieve consensus among the remaining G20 members.
