Group photograph of world leaders at the G20 summit on 21 November 2025. (Photo: Jairus Mmutle/GCIS) 
Even with the US seat left empty and questions lingering about its participation until the last minute, South Africa pushed ahead, proving that the G20 Summit would not be derailed by diplomatic tension.
Hosting the gathering on African soil for the first time, South Africa managed to steer the G20 Summit towards consensus on a Declaration that meets most of SA’s priorities, though some members would have liked stronger language on some issues such as gender equality, debt sustainability and climate.
Argentina, a close ally of the US, was a notable detractor, but officials said that it had been part of the consensus.
On the sidelines, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya reflected on the moment, stressing that South Africa would not bend protocol to accommodate Washington’s attempt to receive the presidency from South Africa through a junior embassy official.
“It’s a position of principle. America chose to boycott this summit. That’s their prerogative to do so. But what cannot happen is breach of protocol being forced down our throats. We are a sovereign country,” Magwenya said.
Although SA managed to achieve a Leader’s Declaration rather than a mere “Chair’s Statement” – which implied consensus – the title of the Declaration and the first line were tweaked to implicitly acknowledge the absence of the US.
Read more: Exclusive: Inside the adopted G20 declaration — US handover likely low-key and offsite
Most G20 members, however, regarded Argentina as the implicit representative of the US in the meeting and so some controversy blew up about Argentina’s adoption of the Declaration.
Some sources suggested that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s unorthodox decision to get the summit Declaration adopted at the start of the meeting rather than the end was a strategy to pre-empt any backtracking by Argentina from the Declaration agreed to by the sherpas.
Although the Declaration was adopted without objection, Argentina’s foreign minister, Pablo Quirno Magrane, later voiced objections to some of the Declaration, including the position on Gaza.
Following a closed plenary session with contributions from all G20 members, President Ramaphosa invited guest nations to speak – many applauding South Africa for its composure, its hosting and the simple fact that, despite the drama, the show went on.
By the afternoon, the traditional family photos were taken, first with G20 members, and then with invited countries and international organisations, as the summit continued and is set to conclude tomorrow Sunday, 23 November 2025. DM
Final 22 November 2025 G20 South Africa Summit 22-23 November