G20 moves ahead without the US

'SA has delivered a progressive declaration on debt crisis gripping Global South nations'

- SIMON MAJADIBODU and SIYABONGA SITHOLE

THE G20 leaders are set to adopt a joint declaration today as the two-day Summit in Johannesburg concludes, directly rebuffing US President Donald Trump's attempt to block any consensus without Washington's participation.

The declaration, which acknowledges the urgent debt crisis gripping many Global South countries, marks a significant diplomatic stand by attending nations and a clear rejection of Trump's eleventh-hour demands.

Forty-two countries and institutions took part in yesterday’s sessions, despite the US refusing to attend the Summit, even as it prepares to assume the G20 presidency from South Africa.

Tensions escalated sharply this week after Trump warned South Africa not to issue any joint leaders' declaration, insisting it would not be legitimate without US endorsement.

Then, in an abrupt reversal, the US later proposed sending its embassy’s chargé d'affaires to collect the G20 Presidency gavel from President Cyril Ramaphosa, a request South Africa swiftly rejected.

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, confirmed that no US representatives would attend, sealing Washington’s isolation from the final outcomes.

“We have made our position very clear. What they were suggesting is a breach of protocol. You cannot have a head of state handing over the presidency and the leadership of such an important, premier forum for macroeconomic issues and other related issues to a junior embassy official. It’s a breach of protocol. It has never happened before and it was never going to happen for the first time here in South Africa,” said Magwenya.

In diplomatic practice, a chargé d'affaires is the lowest-ranking head of mission, typically appointed only when a country does not have an ambassador in place. Unlike an ambassador or minister, a chargé d'affaires does not present credentials to a host head of state and is generally viewed as a temporary or junior-level representative.