Politics

G20 Leaders Adopt Declaration at Summit Boycotted by U.S.

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Nov 22, 2025

THE BARE STORY

Leaders at the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, adopted a declaration on Saturday, the first day of the two-day meeting. The United States is boycotting the talks due to a diplomatic rift with the host nation. The 122-point declaration encourages global action on issues affecting developing countries, including climate-related disasters and sovereign debt.

The U.S. boycott was ordered by President Donald Trump. According to South African officials, the Trump administration cited claims of "racist anti-white policies" in South Africa and opposed the summit's agenda, which focuses on climate change and inequality. While a spokesperson for South Africa's president said the declaration was adopted unanimously by the members present, Argentina stated it did not endorse the document. Argentina's president did not attend the summit, reportedly in solidarity with the U.S.

The diplomatic dispute has also created tension over the G20 presidency, which the U.S. is scheduled to take over from South Africa. The White House announced a U.S. Embassy representative would attend the formal handover. In response, a spokesperson for South Africa’s Foreign Ministry called this an "insult," stating the South African president would not participate and that a ceremony was not expected to occur on Sunday.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who attended the summit, said he regretted the U.S. absence but stated it should not stop the group from addressing its challenges. The G20, which includes 19 countries, the European Union, and the African Union, operates on consensus and represents approximately 85% of the global economy.

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• The G20 proceeded with its work, adopting a declaration despite the U.S. absence. Leaders at the Johannesburg summit adopted a 122-point declaration on the first day of the meeting. A spokesperson for South Africa's president said the declaration was adopted unanimously by all the members who were present.

• The summit focused on addressing challenges facing developing countries. The adopted declaration encourages global action on significant issues impacting the developing world. The article specifically notes that the agenda included tackling climate-related disasters and sovereign debt.

• The host nation and other members have criticized the U.S. actions. A spokesperson for South Africa’s Foreign Ministry called the U.S. plan to send only an embassy representative to the presidential handover an "insult," adding that the South African president would not participate. While French President Emmanuel Macron said he regretted the U.S. absence, he also stated the boycott should not stop the group from addressing its challenges.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• The U.S. absence from talks on climate and debt means American interests are not represented, potentially affecting future international policies that impact the U.S. economy.

• A strained G20 presidency handover could affect the U.S.'s ability to lead the group, potentially impacting coordination on global economic matters next year.

• The diplomatic dispute with major economic partners may create uncertainty for businesses and markets that rely on stable international cooperation for trade and investment.

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