South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a sharp message at Africa’s first G20 summit, declaring: “This G20 is not about the United States. It’s about all member states.” His remarks came as leaders adopted a declaration on climate change, renewable energy and debt relief, despite opposition and boycotts from the United States.
The US government denounced the document as a “shameful” recognition of the scientific consensus on global warming and sought to block any mention of climate action. South Africa rejected a U.S. effort to downgrade the extradition by sending a junior diplomat, calling it a breach of protocol.
Ramaphosa highlighted the “overwhelming consensus” among member states and underlined Africa’s determination to lead. Adopting the declaration without U.S. cooperation highlighted Pretoria’s defiance and the international community’s desire to move forward without the United States.
President Ramaphosa’s words underscored a broader disdain by insisting the summit was not about the United States. American obstructionism has been sidelined, and its absence has become a symbol of its diminished influence in shaping solutions to pressing global crises.