G20 Gathers in Africa Despite U. S. Absence

World leaders from the G20 met in Johannesburg, South Africa, for a significant summit, even though the U. S. chose not to attend. This gathering was unique because a declaration was adopted right at the beginning, which is not the usual way things are done. Typically, these declarations happen at the end of the summit. The U. S. had some issues with South Africa and decided to skip the event, but the other countries went ahead and made their statement anyway. South Africa had big plans for this summit. They wanted to focus on problems that affect poorer countries, like climate change and unfair economic conditions. The U. S. wasn't happy with these topics, but South Africa pushed forward. President Cyril Ramaphosa even mentioned that there was a consensus among the leaders, even though the U. S. wasn't there. There was a bit of a mix-up during the summit when Ramaphosa's comments were accidentally broadcast. He said they would adopt the declaration right away. Someone quickly told him the cameras were still rolling, and he stopped talking. Later, it was said that all countries agreed to the declaration, except Argentina, which didn't support it. Argentina's president also didn't show up in solidarity with the U. S. South Africa had a lot on its agenda, like helping poor countries deal with climate disasters, reducing their debt, and moving to cleaner energy. The U. N. Secretary-General said it was good that South Africa brought these issues to the table, but he wasn't sure if the G20 would actually make big changes. The U. S. boycott made things tense, but other leaders wanted to move past it. French President Emmanuel Macron said it was a shame the U. S. wasn't there, but they still had important work to do. The G20 includes 19 countries, the European Union, and the African Union. Together, they make up a huge part of the world's economy and population. Even though the G20 usually ends with a declaration, the U. S. tried to pressure South Africa to make it less strong. Ramaphosa said they wouldn't be bullied. However, things might change when the U. S. takes over the G20 presidency next. The U. S. will only send a junior official to the handover ceremony, which South Africa finds disrespectful.