Johannesburg, South Africa – Leaders of the G20 gathered in Johannesburg this past weekend, reaching a broad consensus on global challenges despite the absence of US President Donald Trump, who opted not to attend the summit.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed regret over Trump’s boycott but emphasized that the meeting would continue unabated. “It should not block us. Our duty is to be present, engage, and work together because we face many pressing challenges,” Macron said.
This year’s summit is historic as the first G20 meeting ever hosted on African soil. Delegates focused on longstanding global issues, with particular attention on supporting the world’s poorest nations and addressing conflicts that continue to destabilize regions across the globe.
The summit’s final declaration highlights commitments to pursue comprehensive and lasting peace in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the occupied Palestinian territories, and Ukraine. Leaders also underscored the urgent need to address climate change, signaling a clear stance contrary to President Trump’s repeated skepticism regarding human-induced global warming.
In addition to peace and environmental concerns, the declaration emphasized the impact of large-scale disasters on vulnerable populations, noting that poverty and inequality are often worsened by such crises. High debt levels in developing countries were identified as a barrier to inclusive growth, prompting a renewed pledge to implement the G20’s common framework for debt treatment “in a predictable, timely, orderly, and coordinated manner.”
The leaders also called for critical minerals to play a larger role in driving value-added development rather than serving solely as raw material exports, reflecting a focus on sustainable economic growth for resource-rich countries.
Founded in 1999, the G20 is composed of 19 countries, the European Union, and the African Union, making it a 21-member forum that addresses international economic cooperation. This Johannesburg summit marks a significant step in engaging Africa directly in global economic and political discussions.
