Johannesburg Hosts a Dramatic and Defining G20 Summit

South Africa made history this past weekend as it became the first African nation to host the Group of 20 (G20) Summit - a milestone moment that unfolded with both diplomatic triumphs and tensions. Held in Johannesburg from 22–23 November, the summit brought together leaders and representatives from the world’s largest economies to address the planet’s most urgent challenges, from climate change to global inequality.

A Declaration Pushed Through Against the Odds

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa described the final G20 declaration as a symbol of a “renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation,” even as the summit weathered significant objections from the United States, which boycotted the main engagements.

Addressing the closing ceremony on Sunday, Ramaphosa emphasised that the declaration demonstrated how “shared goals outweigh our differences,” underscoring the collective commitment to concrete global action aimed at improving lives across the world.

Despite U.S. resistance, South Africa succeeded in rallying broad support from G20 members (including major players such as China, Russia, France, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the United Kingdom) for a declaration that highlighted the needs of poorer nations. These included calls for:

• increased financial support after climate-related disasters,

• measures to ease unsustainable national debt, and

• assistance for transitions to green and renewable energy.

Notably, South Africa broke with the long-standing tradition of releasing the leaders’ declaration at the end of the summit. Instead, it was issued on the opening day (another first in G20 history) reflecting both the urgency of global challenges and the determination of the host nation to set a decisive tone.

Lula: “Multilateralism Is Alive”

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whose country recently hosted COP30, praised the Johannesburg summit’s outcomes. He remarked that the success of both COP30 and the G20 Summit proved that multilateralism remains strong. He added that the next crucial step is turning the G20’s decisions into real, impactful action.

A Diplomatic Rift with Washington

While the summit succeeded in forging new consensus, it was also overshadowed by a tense diplomatic row with the United States.

The dispute began when the U.S. declined to send a head-of-state representative, a requirement for the formal handover of the rotating G20 presidency. Former President Donald Trump, who is set to lead the U.S. again in 2026, boycotted the summit entirely, levelling debunked allegations that South Africa’s Black-majority government persecutes its white minority.

South Africa refused to hand over the presidency to what it described as a junior U.S. representative, calling the decision disrespectful. Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola insisted that only a head of state, special presidential envoy, or minister would have been appropriate.

The White House, however, denied claims that it sought last-minute participation. By Sunday, Ramaphosa confirmed that despite the aborted formal ceremony, the G20 presidency had nonetheless been passed on to the United States.

Global Security, Gaza, and Erdogan’s Warning

The crisis in Gaza also took centre stage in Johannesburg. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his position that Israeli actions amounted to “genocide,” placing responsibility squarely on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Erdogan confirmed that Türkiye is still evaluating whether to deploy security forces as part of an international stabilisation mission being developed following recent ceasefire agreements signed in Egypt - negotiations in which Türkiye played a key mediating role.

Argentina and the U.S. Stand Alone in Opposition

Argentina, whose President Javier Milei skipped the summit, joined the U.S. in opposing the leaders’ declaration. Their refusal contrasted sharply with the rest of the G20, which supported the Africa-led agenda centering on climate justice and global wealth inequality.

A Defining Moment for Africa on the World Stage

As the first G20 summit ever hosted on African soil, Johannesburg’s moment in the global spotlight came with high expectations - and it delivered.

South Africa showcased leadership in rallying strong support for vulnerable nations, challenging traditional power dynamics, and foregrounding the issues that matter most to the Global South.

Despite diplomatic turbulence, the summit demonstrated that Africa’s place in global decision-making is growing, assertive, and impossible to ignore.