On the first day of the G20 Leaders’ Summit held on Saturday, November 22, in Johannesburg, South Africa adopted a declaration addressing climate change and other global challenges, despite objections from the United States. The White House, however, accused the Ramaphosa administration of using this year’s G20 presidency as a political tool.
According to Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the declaration was the result of a year-long process of preparation, followed by intense discussions last week. He emphasized that the wording opposed by Washington could not be revisited in the declaration.
Meanwhile, Argentina withdrew from discussions at the last moment, before the declaration was approved. Foreign Minister Pablo T. Quirno cited concerns over certain geopolitical language, particularly related to Middle East conflicts, which Argentina found unacceptable.
The declaration highlights the importance of climate change, targets for expanding renewable energy, and initiatives to address debt in poorer countries. However, the Trump administration refused to endorse the declaration’s language, remaining reluctant to recognize climate change scientifically.
President Ramaphosa, in his opening speech at the summit, stressed that nothing should undermine the prestige and influence of South Africa’s first-ever African G20 presidency.
China’s Premier Li Keqiang also addressed the assembly, noting that differences in national interests and gaps in global cooperation remain major obstacles to international unity. He called for collective problem-solving and coordination among G20 members.
Additionally, South Africa rejected a U.S. proposal regarding the handover of G20 presidency. Magwenya stated that the president would not transfer G20 leadership to any junior diplomatic official, describing such a move as a violation of protocol. The foreign ministry plans to appoint a diplomat of equivalent rank to Chargé d’Affaires to manage the handover.