Johannesburg. The 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit wrapped up in Johannesburg on Sunday, closing a tense gathering marked by a high-profile boycott from the United States and disagreements over the summit’s final declaration.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa officially brought the summit to a close after rejecting a U.S. request to hand over the G20 presidency to a junior diplomat. The U.S., under President Donald Trump, declined to send a senior representative, intensifying diplomatic strain at the meeting.
Despite the tensions, world leaders adopted a 122-point declaration focusing on climate action, gender equality, global debt relief and reforms to international financial institutions. Analysts described the outcome as a diplomatic win for South Africa, which pushed through the declaration without full U.S. support.
On the sidelines, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside leaders from Brazil and South Africa, proposed new cooperation under the IBSA alliance, including collaboration on digital infrastructure and climate-resilient initiatives.
Ramaphosa also chaired a meeting of African heads of state to reaffirm the continent’s development priorities within the G20 bloc.
As the summit closed, South Africa formally handed over the G20 presidency to the United States, with the next meeting scheduled to take place in Miami in 2026.
