G20 Summit Closes in South Africa Amid US Boycott

Mon Nov 24 2025 16:31:44 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The G20 summit in Johannesburg culminated with a declaration for multilateral cooperation, despite a significant boycott from the US government.

The G20 summit in Johannesburg has concluded with a call for 'multilateral cooperation' on issues like climate change and economic inequality, despite the absence of US President Donald Trump, who boycotted the event. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized the summit's demonstration of shared goals among nations. Discussions also progressed on achieving peace in regions such as Ukraine and Sudan, marking a pivotal moment for multilateral issues.

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 US, which boycotted the meeting in Johannesburg.

Speaking at the closing ceremony on Sunday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the agreement showed shared goals outweighed the 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 the victim of large-scale killings and land grabs.

It was the first time a G20 summit was held in Africa. Indonesia, India, and Brazil have led the summit over the past three years.

The US will host the G20 in 2026, with the summit expected to be held at Trump's golf course in Florida.

The ceremonial handover of the presidency which was meant to happen at the end of the summit did not take place and is expected to occur next week, involving junior officials.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated it didn't matter much that Trump had not attended, adding that multilateralism was more alive than ever.

German Chancellor Fredriech Merz expressed that it was not a good decision for the US to abstain. He noted that the world is currently undergoing a realignment, with new connections forming.

Delegates also reached consensus on working towards just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The inclusion of Sudan is significant, signaling the conflict's prominence at the G20 for the first time after over two years.