Trump Boycotts G20 Summit, Impacting South Africa’s Historic Event

The upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, faces significant challenges as former US President Donald Trump announces his decision to boycott the event. This marks the first G20 summit hosted on African soil, yet Trump’s absence raises concerns regarding the summit’s effectiveness in addressing pressing global issues.

Tensions between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa have escalated since a controversial meeting in the Oval Office nine months ago. During that meeting, Trump played a video alleging persecution of white South African farmers, a claim that Ramaphosa strongly contests. Despite this, Trump has continued to assert these debunked allegations, recently referring to the event as a “disgrace” for South Africa to host. Ramaphosa’s succinct response to Trump’s claims was, “Their loss.”

The implications of Trump’s boycott stretch beyond mere attendance. His absence could hinder the summit’s ability to reach consensus on vital issues, such as climate resilience, clean energy transition, and fair access to critical minerals. The G20, comprising 19 major economies and the European Union, represents approximately 85 percent of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population. Without the US, the summit may struggle to issue the customary final declaration, which requires agreement from all member nations.

In addition to Trump, other high-profile absences are expected. Argentine President Javier Milei is also skipping the summit for ideological reasons. Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend due to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, while China has opted to send Premier Li Qiang instead of President Xi Jinping.

The absence of US representation is striking. Trump emphasized on social media that “No US Government Official will attend as long as these Human Rights abuses continue,” referring to his unfounded claims about farmer persecution. The US’s lack of participation has raised questions about the future of multilateral engagements, as Peter Varghese, a former secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, noted that Trump’s stance reflects a unilateral approach that undermines traditional multilateralism.

For Australia, with a history of leadership in the G20, the summit remains crucial. Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd played a pivotal role in establishing the G20 to coordinate responses to the Global Financial Crisis in 2008. Current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is attending the summit, asserting that the G20 is still relevant despite the absence of two major powers. Albanese plans to engage in bilateral meetings with leaders from India, South Korea, and Japan, emphasizing Australia’s position as a middle power.

As global economic conditions become increasingly uncertain, Treasurer Jim Chalmers highlighted the summit’s potential to foster stability amidst “choppy waters.” He noted that while the world has managed to navigate recent trade tensions better than anticipated, significant risks and unpredictability remain.

As the summit approaches, Ramaphosa faces the challenge of symbolically handing over the G20 presidency to Trump, who will not be present. Ramaphosa expressed his reluctance, stating, “I don’t want to hand over to an empty chair, but the empty chair will be there.”

The G20 summit in Johannesburg was intended to showcase South Africa’s leadership and diplomatic influence on the global stage. Yet, the absence of the United States and other key figures casts a shadow over what was meant to be a landmark event for both South Africa and the international community.