JOHANNESBURG, Nov 18 — As South Africa prepares to host the first-ever G20 summit in Africa, one image is already defining the event: an empty chair reserved for Donald Trump. For President Cyril Ramaphosa, that empty seat is not just symbolic; it’s an unexpected opportunity.
The United States announced it will not attend the G20 Summit on November 22–23, claiming concerns about the treatment of white people in South Africa, a country once ruled under an apartheid system that ended in 1994. The Trump administration has also rejected the summit’s agenda, which focuses on multilateralism, climate resilience, debt relief for developing nations, and fairer global access to critical minerals.
Despite Washington’s absence, South Africa is determined to use the G20 platform to highlight Africa’s economic potential, growing influence, and the urgency of global cooperation.
Ramaphosa: “I Don’t Want to Hand Over to an Empty Chair”
At the close of the summit, Ramaphosa is expected to symbolically hand over G20 leadership to the next host President Trump.
“I don’t want to hand over to an empty chair, but the empty chair will be there,” Ramaphosa said while preparing for the event in Soweto, the historic Johannesburg township that was once at the heart of apartheid-era segregation.
He added that he would proceed with the symbolic handover and “then talk to President Trump.”
A Chance to Shape the Global Agenda
South Africa’s agenda underscores major global priorities:
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Preparing for climate change–driven disasters
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Supporting sustainable debt solutions for low-income nations
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Financing clean energy transitions
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Ensuring Africa benefits from the global rush for critical minerals
With Trump absent and with Argentina’s Javier Milei and Russia’s Vladimir Putin also skipping the summit analysts say this creates room for other global powers to fill the leadership gap.
“Without the U.S. playing its traditional role, such forums are even more important for cooperation,” said Chris Vandome of Chatham House.
China will send Premier Li Qiang instead of President Xi Jinping, while France’s Emmanuel Macron is expected to push for stronger bilateral ties and launch a Franco–South African business council.
A Stage for New Alliances and Deals
Diplomats say several countries see the G20 in Johannesburg as a chance to deepen bilateral partnerships, negotiate trade deals, and strengthen ties with Africa a continent rich in minerals, innovation, and young talent.
Africa’s representation is bolstered by an African Union delegation, positioning the summit as a moment to demand fairness in resource exploitation and energy access.
Public policy researcher Busisipho Siyobi notes that 600 million Africans lack electricity, making the clean energy transition a critical issue.
Why Trump’s Absence May Work in South Africa’s Favor
Some analysts believe Trump’s nonattendance may actually benefit the summit.
Piet Croucamp of North-West University argues that recent U.S. diplomatic behavior including a contentious speech in Europe by Vice President JD Vance suggests Washington’s presence might have created “a distraction.”
“Trump not coming to South Africa may be the best thing that could happen to the G20,” he said.
The Multilateralism Challenge
Yet the summit faces an uphill battle. Multilateral cooperation the very idea South Africa hopes to champion — is under strain. Even before Trump returned to the White House, divisions among G20 nations over climate responsibility and global trade weakened joint commitments.
The U.S. had already indicated it would veto any mention of climate change, further complicating negotiations.
“South Africa wanted it to be about keeping multilateralism alive,” said veteran journalist Steven Friedman. “A very nice-sounding idea … but it’s running against the tide. At the moment multilateralism is dead.”
Africa Takes the Global Stage With or Without the U.S.
Despite geopolitical tensions, the G20 summit South Africa 2025 marks a milestone for the continent. It gives African nations a platform to highlight economic potential, push for fairer global governance, and strengthen ties with world powers eager for access to minerals essential to industries from electric vehicles to semiconductors.
And whether the world’s most powerful leader is present or not, South Africa appears ready to lead — even if the handover at the summit’s end is made to an empty chair.
