Journalism of Courage
Leaders at the G20 summit in South Africa agreed on a joint declaration on Saturday, even though the United States boycotted the meeting and did not take part in drafting the final text.
A spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the document “cannot be renegotiated”, noting it was prepared after months of work and an intense final week. The spokesperson also said there had been “overwhelming consensus” among other members.
The United States stayed away from the summit after US President Donald Trump claimed, without evidence, that South Africa’s government targets white citizens. A White House official later called the declaration “shameful” because it used language the US has long opposed.
According to four sources familiar with the talks, G20 envoys completed the draft on Friday without US involvement. The text includes references to the seriousness of climate change, support for renewable energy targets and concerns about high debt repayments faced by poorer countries — language Washington has resisted under Trump.
In his opening address, Ramaphosa said: “There’s been overwhelming consensus and agreement that one of the tasks we should undertake at the beginning is to adopt our declaration.” He thanked delegates for working “in good faith” to deliver a final document.
The mention of climate change directly disagrees with Trump’s position. US officials had said they would oppose any reference to global warming in the declaration.
Trump also rejected South Africa’s wider agenda for the summit, which focused on supporting developing countries as they face extreme weather, transition to cleaner energy systems, and manage heavy debt.
The boycott complicated Ramaphosa’s plan to highlight the value of South Africa’s first G20 presidency and its efforts to support global cooperation.
South Africa is due to hand over the rotating G20 presidency to the United States for 2026. Ramaphosa said the handover would be made to an “empty chair”, and his office declined a US proposal to send the chargé d’affaires to accept it.
