G20 Summit in South Africa Issues Declaration Without US

Leaders from major economies gathered in Johannesburg, South Africa, over the weekend for the G20 summit, the first hosted on the African continent, where they issued a joint declaration endorsing multilateralism despite a boycott by the United States. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized that global progress on key issues remains possible without American involvement, highlighting a shifting economic center of gravity away from Washington.

The summit, attended by representatives from dozens of nations including China, India, Japan, Turkey, Brazil, Australia, and European countries, convened amid rising geopolitical tensions, trade protectionism, and conflicts such as Russia's war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas situation in Gaza. South Africa, as host, invited several non-G20 countries, particularly from Africa and emerging markets, to broaden discussions on inclusive economic growth, climate change, food systems, clean energy, and development financing. Sessions focused on adapting the group to a fragmenting world order, with leaders acknowledging challenges like deepening inequality and economic uncertainty.

The United States, under President Donald Trump, declined...