<
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/g20-leaders-meet-south-africa-seeking-agreement-despite-us-boycott-2025-11-22/>
“JOHANNESBURG/WASHINGTON, Nov 22 (
Reuters) - Group of 20 leaders adopted a
declaration addressing the climate crisis and other global challenges on
Saturday over U.S. objections, prompting the White House to accuse South Africa
of weaponizing its leadership of the group this year.
The declaration, which was drafted without input from the United States, "can't
be renegotiated," South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson told
reporters, reflecting strains between Pretoria and U.S. President Donald
Trump’s administration, which boycotted the event.
"We had the entire year of working towards this adoption and the past week has
been quite intense," spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.
Hours later, the White House said Ramaphosa was "refusing to facilitate a
smooth transition of the G20 presidency" after initially saying he would pass
the gavel to 'an empty chair.'"
"This, coupled with South Africa’s push to issue a G20 Leaders Declaration,
despite consistent and robust U.S. objections, underscores the fact that they
have weaponized their G20 presidency to undermine the G20’s founding
principles," said White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly. Trump looks forward to
"restoring legitimacy" to the group next year, when the U.S. holds the rotating
presidency.
Ramaphosa, host of this weekend's gathering of Group of 20 leaders in
Johannesburg, had earlier said there was "overwhelming consensus" for a summit
declaration.
But at the last minute Argentina, whose far-right President Javier Milei is a
close ally of Trump, quit the negotiations right before the envoys were about
to adopt the draft text, South African officials said.
"Argentina, although it cannot endorse the declaration ... remains fully
committed to the spirit of cooperation that has defined the G20 since its
conception," its foreign minister Pablo Quirno said at the summit. Ramaphosa
noted this, but went ahead with it anyway.
In explanation, Quirno said Argentina was concerned about how the document
referred to geopolitical issues.
"Specifically it addresses the longstanding Middle East conflict in a manner
that fails to capture its full complexity," he said. The document mentions the
conflict once, saying members agree to work for a just, comprehensive, and
lasting peace in ... the Occupied Palestinian Territory."”
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
