By Johnathan Paoli
The G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa opened with member countries unanimously adopting the declaration on Saturday despite the unprecedented boycott by the United States.
Shortly after the declaration was adopted, the Presidency confirmed that a last-minute request from the US delegation to attend the closing ceremony was rejected on the grounds that it was a breach of protocol.
Presidency spokesman Vincent Magwenya dismissed claims that the US had been barred from the G20 closing ceremony, insisting the country had prepared to receive US Vice President JD Vance before Washington abruptly announced the boycott.
Magwenya added that the last-minute request to accommodate the US Embassy’s request was impossible within established logistical and security protocol.
“It was just not going to be feasible. We have to recognise that there was a process and all other countries participated in that process. They gave us their delegation list on time, they made all the advance preparations. So, it’s a little bit unfair on South Africa to expect that we must now drop everything that we are doing because somebody has decided to change their minds,” he said.
The adoption of the declaration on consensus marked one of the most significant diplomatic victories of South Africa’s G20 Presidency given the boycott.
“The declaration has been adopted unanimously by all countries. It cannot be renegotiated. And the rest of the discussion over the next two days will be the G20 leaders affirming it,” said Magwenya.
For weeks ahead of the summit, tensions had mounted over the Trump administration’s decision to boycott the summit entirely, sending no senior officials and refusing to participate in negotiations.
Magwenya said the US boycott, while regrettable, ultimately did not fracture the bloc.
“Look, everyone noted that. You will recall that the US is one of the originators, leading originators of the G20. Be that as it may, it’s a short-term blip. The US will take over the Presidency of the G20, and we will be able to engage on some of these issues in a constructive manner,” he said.
Ramaphosa used the moment to frame the declaration as a reaffirmation of global unity at a time of deepening polarisation.
“As this is the first G20 Leaders’ Summit to be held in Africa, it carries the hopes, and must reflect the aspirations, of the people of this continent and of the world.
“We should not allow anything to diminish the value, the stature or the impact of the first African G20 Presidency,” said Ramaphosa
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