Cyril Ramaphosa presses ahead with G20 goals despite US boycott

South Africa hosts G20 summit amid US boycott, pushes for debt relief and global equality

South Africa is set to host the G20 summit this weekend, focusing on debt relief for developing countries and addressing global inequalities, even as the United States announces it will skip the event.

President Cyril Ramaphosa called the US absence “their loss,” noting the summit remains critical for the Global South.

The US boycott, led by President Donald Trump, reflects a broader retreat from multilateral engagements, following his withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, unilateral tariffs, including a 30% tariff on South Africa, and the decision not to send delegates to COP30 in Brazil.

Trump has also publicly criticised South Africa, including false claims about violence against Afrikaners.

Under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” South Africa’s agenda prioritises debt and disaster financing, highlighting that between 2021 and 2023, African countries spent $70 per capita on debt interest — more than on health or education.

Ramaphosa is also championing the creation of an “International Inequalities Panel,” modelled on the IPCC, to confront wealth gaps that threaten democracy and social cohesion.

“If adopted, it would mark a significant win… for the millions across the Global South whose voices are often sidelined in elite economic forums,” said University of Pretoria researcher Tendai Mbanje.

It remains uncertain whether a consensus or joint declaration will emerge, with some delegates, including Argentina, reportedly obstructing preparations.

In the US absence, China’s Premier Li Qiang is expected to push for multilateralism, while Russia will be represented by President Putin’s economic advisor, Maxim Oreshkin.

The summit coincides with the conclusion of COP30 in Brazil and marks the final Global South-led G20 presidency before the United States assumes the chair in 2026, with plans to narrow discussions to economic cooperation at a Miami meeting hosted on a Trump-owned golf course.