G20 summit in South Africa adopts declaration despite U.S. boycott and opposition

Sunday, November 23, 2025 -World leaders at the G20 summit in Johannesburg broke with tradition by adopting a sweeping 122-point declaration on the first day, even as the United States boycotted the talks. 

The move marked a bold assertion of the first-ever African G20 presidency, with South Africa using its platform to elevate a global agenda focused on climate urgency, debt relief, and economic equity. Officials emphasized that the declaration reflected immediate global priorities and would not be delayed or watered down.

The document, drafted without any U.S. participation, underscores the severity of climate change, supports ambitious renewable energy transitions, and highlights the crushing debt burdens facing poorer nations. 

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office described the declaration as final and non-negotiable. Leaders across the Global South praised the decision as a necessary step toward a more balanced global economic order, positioning the summit as a turning point in shifting influence away from traditional power centers.

In Washington, the response was sharply critical. The White House accused South Africa of “weaponizing” its G20 leadership, arguing that pushing through such a wide-ranging declaration without consensus broke with the forum’s foundational norms. U.S. officials warned that bypassing traditional consultation risks undermining the G20’s credibility. 

Despite these objections, the summit proceeded with broad international backing, signaling that major economies may be increasingly willing to advance global agreements even when U.S. support is absent.