US to skip Key G20 meeting in Johannesburg

New Delhi, Nov 20: South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa urged G20 foreign ministers to uphold multilateralism and international law as essential tools for tackling global challenges. His remarks come amid concerns over the United States’ continued absence from the G20 discussions. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has chosen to boycott the meeting, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also announced that he will not attend the upcoming G20 finance ministers’ gathering, reports international media.

The United States is instead being represented only by the deputy chief of mission from its embassy in South Africa.

The meeting in Johannesburg has drawn senior representatives from major global powers, including India, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom. South Africa, the first African country to chair the G20, is seeking to highlight the priorities of developing nations in negotiations with wealthier economies. The G20 comprises 19 countries along with the African Union and European Union. Together, they represent more than 80 per cent of the global economy and about two-thirds of the world’s population. South Africa will hold the G20 presidency until November 2025, after which it is expected to pass the leadership to the United States.