On Saturday, November 22, 2025, the 20th G20 Summit in Johannesburg wrapped up with a bold 122-point declaration to strengthen multilateralism and uplift developing nations—despite a high-profile US boycott. 🌍✊
The declaration, titled G20 South Africa Summit: Leaders' Declaration, underscores the need for equitable global governance, inclusive growth, and sustainable development across the Global South. It calls for stronger support to tackle climate change, digital divides, and economic inequalities.
Although all G20 members endorsed the declaration, the United States stayed away, rejecting any outcome without its consent. Tensions have been rising between Washington and Pretoria over South Africa's land reform law and its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
South African officials, including International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, pushed back hard. 'We cannot allow coercion by absentia to become a viable tactic,' said Lamola, insisting that Pretoria wouldn't be bullied.
Experts like Frank Lekaba from the University of the Witwatersrand hailed the declaration as a win for Africa's leadership on the world stage. With South Africa set to hand over the G20 presidency to the US on December 1, 2025, the drama over protocol continues—but the message is clear: multilateralism is alive and kicking. 💥
For young minds in South and Southeast Asia, this summit highlights how emerging voices are reshaping global rules—proving that even without one superpower, cooperation can still shine. Stay tuned for what’s next! 🚀
Reference(s):
G20 Johannesburg summit adopts declaration despite U.S. boycott
cgtn.com
