The upcoming G20 Summit in Johannesburg faces uncertainty due to a US boycott led by President Donald Trump, alongside absences from other key leaders. South Africa aims to advance priorities like critical minerals and debt sustainability despite the challenges. President Cyril Ramaphosa insists the event will proceed and yield important decisions.
The G20 Summit, scheduled for 22 and 23 November 2025 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec, will host 65 delegations, including the 18 G20 countries, the European Union, African Union, 15 guest countries, and international organizations. Over 1,000 delegates are expected to attend. However, the absence of US representation, confirmed by Trump on Truth Social citing false claims about Afrikaners being killed and farms confiscated, threatens the issuance of a Leaders’ Declaration, which requires consensus.
Argentine President Javier Milei has also boycotted, with Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno attending instead. Unconfirmed reports suggest Chinese President Xi Jinping may not attend, while Russia will be represented by Maxim Oreshkin, as President Vladimir Putin faces an ICC arrest warrant and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is not attending. Ramaphosa told journalists on Wednesday that the US “absence is their loss” and it would not stop the summit from making “fundamental decisions.”
South Africa’s presidency, following Brazil’s in 2024, emphasizes solidarity, equality, and sustainability. Priorities include strengthening disaster resilience, ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries via the G20/OECD Common Framework, mobilizing finance for just energy transitions aligned with SDG 7, and harnessing critical minerals for inclusive growth. The draft 50-page declaration supports the G20 Critical Minerals Framework, promoting beneficiation in developing countries, and addresses climate change, gender inequalities, SDGs, and free trade.
On critical minerals, South Africa pushes for increased exploration investment—targeting 5% of global spend, last achieved over two decades ago—and integration of artisanal mining. Africa holds 30% of the world’s mineral resources, including major reserves of platinum group metals, manganese, chromium, and cobalt, but much is exported raw to China for processing. Analysts like Glen Nwaila advise collaboration with China and India rather than direct competition, while calling for regulatory transparency, such as functional cadastre systems, where South Africa lags behind Botswana and Namibia.
Geopolitical divides, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and Israel’s actions in Gaza, were finessed, but tensions persist over renewables, with Saudi Arabia objecting. Elizabeth Sidiropoulos noted no precedent for a full G20 member’s absence, suggesting a declaration by present members as in prior ministerial meetings. The US, set to host next, may disregard outcomes, potentially pruning development-focused items.