The G20 summit in Johannesburg continued Sunday morning with focused discussions on critical raw materials and the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. This marks the third and final substantive working session for heads of state and government before the concluding plenary session scheduled for midday.
While an agreement on a concluding declaration was reached on the summit’s first day, the document’s substance reveals a carefully calibrated message intended to address mounting global pressures. The pledge to assist developing nations facing debt crises highlights a simmering recognition of economic instability, but the declaration’s call for a “just, comprehensive and lasting peace” across global conflict zones feels particularly hollow given the profound shadow cast by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The absence of the United States, represented only by an official delegation due to President Donald Trump’s personal boycott, has undeniably dominated the summit’s atmosphere. Trump’s decision, stemming from allegations of severe repression against white farmers in South Africa, has overshadowed even the declared aims of the gathering. Critically, the widely publicized “peace plan” for Ukraine, reportedly championed by the US administration, has not been formally addressed within the official summit proceedings, leading to pointed questions about its impact on global diplomacy and the integrity of the G20’s collective response to major geopolitical challenges.
Observers note that Trump’s delegation’s absence allows for a potentially more unified, albeit likely muted, stance from other G20 nations, who may feel pressured to distance themselves from a unilateral approach to resolving the conflict. However, the US’s economic and political weight inevitably means its withdrawal-and the specter of a US-driven peace proposal-will continue to be a significant factor shaping post-summit discourse and the fragile consensus achieved amongst global leaders. The summit’s success, therefore, hinges not only on concrete actions stemming from the declared intentions but also on the unspoken dynamics created by such a conspicuous absence.