Heads of states pose for a family photo following the first plenary session of the G20 leaders’ summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday.
Misper Apawu/Pool AP
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Misper Apawu/Pool AP
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — The recent G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa made history in various ways. Not only was it the first summit on the African continent, but it also marked the first time the U.S. boycotted the gathering of the world’s largest economies.
Unique aspects of the summit included the early agreement on a declaration at the beginning of the meeting rather than at the end, and the absence of a formal handover between the outgoing and incoming G20 chairs.
The Trump administration chose to boycott the event following false accusations against the South African government regarding land ownership and security issues. The U.S. also opposed the summit’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Despite efforts to disrupt the event, South African Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola expressed satisfaction with the summit’s outcome, emphasizing its success for the country.
Host President Cyril Ramaphosa officially closed the summit and symbolically passed the gavel to the United States, even though President Trump was not present. The handover ceremony was later arranged between officials of both countries.
The summit’s joint declaration, which included DEI language that the U.S. objected to, highlighted issues such as climate change, gender equality, and economic challenges faced by developing nations.
