The upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg — the first ever hosted on African soil — is unfolding under the shadow of a full U.S. boycott and an empty chair reserved for incoming G20 president Donald Trump.
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The upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg — the first ever hosted on African soil — is unfolding under the shadow of a full U.S. boycott and an empty chair reserved for incoming G20 president Donald Trump. South Africa is pushing an ambitious agenda centred on multilateralism, climate resilience, energy transition, and fairer global economic structures. But Washington’s refusal to attend and its warning against issuing a joint declaration have created a diplomatic confrontation that underscores deep fractures in global governance. President Cyril Ramaphosa, determined to showcase Africa’s leadership, says he will symbolically hand over the presidency to Trump’s “empty chair,” highlighting the political tensions shaping this landmark summit.
Guest: John Stremlau: Wits University Honorary professor Of International Relations




