G20 leaders adopt unanimous declaration as South Africa declines late US request to attend

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,