Global Tensions Rise as Trump Skips G20 Summit Amid Ukraine Dispute and Climate Deadlock

The G20 represents a significant global alliance comprising 19 nations alongside the European Union and the African Union.

South Africa:

The G20 summit launched in South Africa on Saturday faced potential overshadowing by tensions between the United States and Europe regarding Ukraine's future, notably marked by Donald Trump's non-attendance.

Various world leaders participated in the Johannesburg conference, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

However, the US president opted not to attend, with his administration indicating that South Africa's focus areas—particularly enhanced global collaboration on trade and climate initiatives—contradicted US policy positions.

In his opening address, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa indirectly addressed Trump's absence, emphasizing the necessity of "multilateralism" in addressing worldwide challenges, including those arising from "escalating geopolitical tensions".

Nevertheless, the American president's influence remained substantial at this first African-hosted summit of major economies, following his unexpected unilateral proposal to resolve the Ukraine conflict in terms largely favorable to Russian interests.

European, Canadian, Japanese, and Australian leaders planned sidebar discussions during Saturday's summit to "discuss the way ahead on Ukraine," according to an EU representative.

A European diplomatic source informed AFP: "We are working on making the US plan something more able to be applied, based on previous dialogue."

Following conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that any such initiative required "joint support and consensus of European partners and NATO allies".

Ukraine and its supporters face a narrow timeframe to influence Washington's 28-point proposal.

Trump has cautioned that "Thursday is, we think, an appropriate time" for Ukraine to accept the plan.

Climate Impasse

The G20 summit faced additional complications from deadlocked COP30 climate negotiations occurring in Brazil.

While Friday was scheduled as the final day of these nearly two-week discussions, they extended into overtime due to allegations that petroleum-producing nations were resisting any mention of fossil fuel phaseout in the concluding document.

Despite these challenges, South Africa, as host, emphasized the importance of international cooperation.

"The G20 underscores the value of the relevance of multilateralism. It recognises that the challenges that we face can only be resolved through cooperation, collaboration and partnership," Ramaphosa stated.

He noted that a joint G20 summit leaders' declaration, adopted as the summit began, "sends an important signal to the world that multilateralism can and does deliver".

The US boycott parallels Trump's decision against sending an official delegation to COP30, reflecting a broader American withdrawal from international forums.

Washington indicated it would only send its embassy's charge d'affaires at the conclusion of the Johannesburg meeting for a handover ceremony, as the United States prepares to host next year's G20 summit at Trump's Florida golf club.

The G20 comprises 19 countries plus the European Union and the African Union, representing 85 percent of global GDP and approximately two-thirds of the world's population.