Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has criticized the United States' absence from the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg as unacceptable, amid the adoption of a declaration on global issues despite the boycott. The summit, the first held on African soil, focused on inequality, climate finance, and the Global South, with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighting Africa's prosperity potential. French President Emmanuel Macron praised South Africa's hosting as a great achievement.
The G20 Leaders’ Summit concluded in Johannesburg on November 23, 2025, marking the first time the event was hosted on the African continent. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa closed the two-day gathering at the Nasrec Expo Centre, noting the absence of the United States due to disputes over climate provisions and unsubstantiated claims of 'white genocide' in South Africa. In his remarks, Ramaphosa stated, 'The gavel closes the summit and now moves on to the next presidency, the United States, where we shall see each other next year,' forgoing the traditional handover ceremony.
The summit adopted a Leaders’ Declaration addressing development priorities, including climate change, mobilizing finance for a Just Energy Transition, and ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries. Ramaphosa emphasized, 'Prosperity begins in the cradle of humankind,' underscoring Africa's role in 21st-century opportunities and calling for partnerships to end global conflicts and foster justice and prosperity. He added that the declaration represents 'a commitment to concrete actions that will improve the lives of people in every part of the world,' reaffirming multilateral cooperation.
Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, a guest of Ramaphosa, described the US explanation for its boycott—citing President Donald Trump’s claims that white Afrikaners were being 'killed and slaughtered' and their farms 'illegally confiscated'—as 'unacceptable and unfounded.' Støre praised Ramaphosa for navigating international pressures, stating, 'I would like to really salute President Ramaphosa for having carried through this G20 presidency in a year of major pressure.' He noted that 19 G20 countries plus partners like Norway reached consensus on key principles, despite the US absence, which he said was suboptimal given America's upcoming presidency.
Støre highlighted growing global inequality, referencing a panel report led by Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz, and Norway's model of equality through free education and high female workforce participation, which rose from low levels in 1970 to top rankings by 1985. Discussions also covered artificial intelligence's potential to exacerbate inequality without redistributive policies. French President Emmanuel Macron commended South Africa, saying, 'The first G20 Summit in our history on the African continent. It’s a great achievement.' Ramaphosa urged swift action to realize the declaration and 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.