• The G20 summit in South Africa concluded with a declaration on multilateral cooperation despite a US boycott.
• South Africa refused to hand over the presidency to a junior US official, escalating diplomatic tensions.
• The declaration addressed climate change and economic inequality, emphasizing shared goals among member nations.
• This event marked the first G20 summit held on African soil, and saw collaboration from key global players.
• US President Trump's absence stemmed from claims about South Africa’s treatment of its white minority.

The G20 summit in Johannesburg wrapped up with South Africa formally closing the event and handing over the rotating presidency to the US, which did not attend. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the summit as a platform for prioritizing Africa and the Global South, stating, “the greatest opportunity for prosperity in the 21st century lies in Africa,” yet noted the absence of the US significantly impacted the proceedings, given the country's pivotal role in the group, according to aa and bbc.

During the summit, South Africa's refusal to pass the G20 presidency to a junior US official created a diplomatic rift, illustrating the growing tensions between Washington and Pretoria. South African officials deemed the US delegation's absence an insult to the hosting nation, emphasizing that only a head of state or an appropriately designated minister could officially receive the presidency, as noted by indiatimes and channelnewsasia.

The summit's joint declaration emphasized "multilateral cooperation," focusing on climate change, economic inequality, and support for developing nations. While the US aimed to delay the adoption of a declaration until they were represented, South African President Ramaphosa secured agreement from participating nations to proceed, marking a significant diplomatic achievement for the host, as reported by reuters and latimes.

As leaders addressed the urgency of climate issues and financial support for poorer nations, the summit's outcome was hailed as a vital step for multilateralism, despite challenges from the US administration. The declaration noted, “our shared goals outweigh our differences,” reinforcing a collaborative spirit among G20 nations, according to lemonde and channelnewsasia.

In the wake of the summit, the US's position as the next host country remains complicated by these tensions. South African authorities confirmed that the formal transfer of the presidency would occur through equivalent diplomats later, further demonstrating the disrupted protocol established for such events. Discussions have emerged about the future cooperation of nations within the G20 framework moving forward, as highlighted by bbc and indiatimes.