Global & US Headlines
South Africa Pushes Through G20 Declaration Amid U.S. Boycott and Standoff Over 2026 Chair Handover
On 22–23 Nov 2025 the Johannesburg G20 summit adopted its leaders’ declaration and delayed the ceremonial transfer of the 2026 presidency after Washington boycotted the meeting and insisted a low-ranking chargé d’affaires receive the gavel.
Focusing Facts
- The declaration was formally adopted at 11:52 a.m. local time on 22 Nov 2025 with the United States absent from the plenary.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa refused to hand over the G20 presidency to U.S. chargé d’affaires Marc D. Dillard, saying the exchange must occur at head-of-state or minister level; DIRCO postponed the ceremony until at least 24 Nov.
- A U.S. diplomatic note (No. 3023/25) warned Pretoria it would “oppose issuance of any G20 summit outcome document without US agreement.”
Context
Great-power walk-outs are not new—think of the 1950 Soviet boycott of the U.N. Security Council that let Resolution 82 on Korea pass, or America’s absence from the 1980 Moscow Olympics—but this is the first time a sitting G20 chair has forged a communiqué without one of the group’s founding members present. The episode spotlights two structural shifts: (1) the G20’s steady enlargement toward the Global South (AU became a permanent member in 2023) which dilutes any single power’s veto, and (2) the declining leverage of U.S. participation as alternative coalitions—BRICS-plus, AU, even ad-hoc “borrowers’ clubs”—gain confidence to set agendas on debt, climate and ratings reform. If sustained, the precedent that a declaration can be issued over a super-power’s objections erodes an informal consensus rule dating back to the first G20 leaders’ summit in 2008 and could, in a century’s view, mark a pivot akin to Bandung 1955: symbolism today, but a signal that agenda-setting is migrating toward the Southern hemisphere.
Perspectives
South African government-friendly outlets
Times LIVE, Africanews, IOL — portray South Africa’s defiance over the US boycott and the early adoption of a climate-and-debt focused declaration as a diplomatic victory for Pretoria and the wider Global South. coverage leans heavily on statements from South African officials and frames events through nationalist pride, downplaying potential costs or protocol breaches to rally domestic support.
Western establishment/financial media
The Economist, parts of Times LIVE quoting the White House — stress that Washington regards Pretoria’s stance as undermining G20 norms and warn that African debt relief remains unlikely amid hardened Western attitudes and a US boycott. analysis privileges US and creditor perspectives, focusing on procedural legitimacy and fiscal prudence while giving limited weight to African calls for climate or reparative justice.
Pan-African policy and opinion writers
Premium Times Nigeria, Daily Maverick, Mail & Guardian — argue the AU’s seat and South Africa’s presidency are openings to push bold reparative justice and debt restructuring plans that empower African youth and debtor nations, regardless of US participation. normative advocacy tone may overestimate Africa’s leverage inside the G20 and underplay governance or implementation challenges on the continent.