G20 leaders meet in South Africa to strike deals despite US boycott

World leaders have gathered in Johannesburg for the G20 summit, despite a boycott by the United States over alleged persecution of white South Africans.

The summit, hosted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, aims to reach agreement on a draft leaders’ declaration drawn up without input from the US, a move described by a senior White House official as “shameful,” Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Climate change is expected to dominate discussions, despite objections from the administration of US President Donald Trump, who has expressed scepticism over human-caused global warming. The draft declaration includes measures on preparing for climate-related disasters, financing the transition to renewable energy, and ensuring critical mineral production benefits producers. Another key item focuses on fairer borrowing conditions for poorer nations.

President Trump announced he would not attend the summit, citing widely discredited allegations that South Africa’s Black-majority government persecutes its white minority. The US has also rejected South Africa’s broader agenda, including support for developing nations’ climate adaptation and debt relief.

Ramaphosa’s plans to showcase South Africa’s role in multilateral diplomacy have been overshadowed by the boycott. Analysts, however, suggest the summit could still succeed if other members embrace the agenda and reach a substantive declaration.

The US is set to host the G20 in 2026. Ramaphosa noted that he will have to hand over the rotating presidency to an “empty chair,” after rejecting an offer from the White House to send the US charge d’affaires for the handover.

By Aghakazim Guliyev