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This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
The 2025 G20 Leaders Summit is a two-day international meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 22–23 November 2025. This summit marked the first time in G20 history that the event took place on the African continent. Organized under the presidency of South Africa, the summit was conducted under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.” At the conclusion of the summit, the G20 presidency was transferred from South Africa to the United States.
South Africa assumed the G20 presidency in November 2024 and structured its year around the priorities of the “Global South.” Key themes included strengthening disaster resilience in fragile infrastructure countries, ensuring debt sustainability in low- and middle-income nations, financing a just energy transition, and assessing critical minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development. The South African government defined the summit as a platform for the G20 to amplify the voice of the “Global South” on issues such as the climate crisis, debt burden, income inequality, and development financing.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, in a press conference held in Johannesburg ahead of the summit, stated that the world was passing through a turbulent period and urged G20 members to use their influence and voices to end conflicts causing widespread death, destruction, and instability globally. Guterres emphasized that climate chaos, economic uncertainty, rising debt burdens, inequalities, and declining global aid had “caused immense suffering worldwide,” drawing particular attention to the urgent need for peace in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Sahel region, and the Gaza Strip.
In a separate statement, referencing the 28-point peace plan proposed for Ukraine and supported by the United States, Guterres noted that the plan had not yet been formally presented to the parties involved. He stressed that any arrangement toward peace in Ukraine must respect the principle of “respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity,” as underscored in the UN Charter and General Assembly resolutions. Guterres characterized the G20 summit as a “unique opportunity” to end conflicts and implement financial support and climate commitments for developing countries.
The 2025 G20 Johannesburg Summit was attended by leaders from 19 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States, alongside representatives of the European Union and the African Union. Additionally, South Africa invited Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Vietnam, and 12 other countries to participate.
According to South African authorities, a total of 42 countries and international organizations were represented at the summit in Johannesburg. In addition to the 19 G20 member states, the European Union, and the African Union, which gained membership status in 2023, Ireland and the Netherlands were also invited alongside the permanent invitee Spain.
With the exception of the United States, most G20 members were represented at the summit by heads of state or government, foreign ministers, or senior officials. China was represented by Prime Minister Li Qiang, France by President Emmanuel Macron, India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the United Kingdom by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Brazil by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Italy by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Japan by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Canada by Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Australia by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres were present at the summit. China was represented by Prime Minister Li Qiang, while Russia was represented by Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Maxim Oreshkin. Argentina and Mexico were represented at the level of their foreign ministers.
United States President Donald Trump did not attend the summit. The Washington administration decided not to participate in the sessions citing allegations of “racial discrimination” against the white minority in South Africa. The U.S. government sent a small delegation led by Charge d’Affaires Marc D. Dillard from the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria to attend the handover ceremony at the conclusion of the summit. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that he would not proceed with the handover ceremony if the United States was represented only at the level of a charge d’affaires.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of the Republic of Türkiye arrived in Johannesburg on 21 November 2025 to attend the summit. He was accompanied by a delegation including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek, and Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran. President Erdoğan was scheduled to hold bilateral meetings on the margins of the summit, participate in parts of the main sessions, and attend the banquet in honor of the leaders.
Outside the United States, Argentine President Javier Milei, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also did not attend the summit in person; their countries were represented by foreign ministers or other senior officials.
During the summit, security measures in Johannesburg were raised to the highest level. Road closures were implemented around the Nasrec Expo Centre, checkpoints were established, and an additional 3,500 police officers were deployed across the city. It was also reported that military units were kept on standby for potential emergencies.
US President Donald Trump boycotted the summit citing allegations that the South African government was engaging in “pressure” and “human rights violations” against the white minority. In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump described the G20 being held in South Africa as a “complete embarrassment” and declared that no US official would attend the summit as long as “human rights violations continue.” In the same message, Trump emphasized that he was “eagerly looking forward” to hosting the 2026 G20 Summit in Miami, Florida.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa characterized the US decision as “self-inflicted losses,” stating that boycotts typically fail to produce the intended impact and that the functioning of the G20 cannot be dictated by the stance of a single country. Ramaphosa announced that he would symbolically leave the seat designated for the US vacant during his presidency of the summit; however, he stressed that the historic significance of the summit being held in Africa for the first time must not be overshadowed by such diplomatic tensions.
The first session of the 2025 G20 Johannesburg Summit, titled “Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth Without Leaving Anyone Behind: Building Economies, the Role of Trade, Financing Development and Debt Burden,” was held on 22 November 2025 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at this session and called on G20 countries to assume greater global responsibility. In his address, Erdoğan stated: “I invite all G20 members to take on greater responsibility in building a more inclusive global economy where no one is left behind.”
Erdoğan referenced the “leave no one behind” commitment that underpins the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, noting that “one in ten people worldwide still struggles with extreme poverty.”
Regarding development aid, he stated that global development assistance, which declined by 9 percent in 2024, was expected to fall further by up to 17 percent in 2025. He highlighted that Türkiye had increased its official development assistance during this period, saying: “We raised our official development assistance from $6.8 billion in 2023 to $7.4 billion in 2024.”
During the session, issues such as reducing the debt burden in developing countries, diversifying financing sources, promoting inclusive growth, and facilitating trade among Global South nations were placed on the agenda.
The second session of the G20 Johannesburg Summit took place on 23 November 2025. Its overarching theme was “A Resilient World – Reducing Disaster Risk, Combating Climate Change and Achieving a Just Energy Transition.” The session addressed the socioeconomic impacts of increasing natural disasters on a global scale, climate adaptation policies, and access to clean energy. Emphasis was placed on strengthening infrastructure resilience in developing countries and increasing financial support for the transition to low-carbon energy sources.
In his speech during this session, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan referred to the destruction in Gaza, stating: “The devastation caused by Israel in Gaza has set back Palestine’s development efforts by 70 years.”
Erdoğan noted that the destruction faced by the Palestinian people negatively affects regional development and asserted that the international community must act in accordance with principles of justice and accountability.
During the session, possibilities for international technical cooperation on reducing disaster risk and enhancing climate resilience were discussed. Participants exchanged views on expanding investments in renewable energy, advancing clean energy technologies, and reducing inequalities in energy access.
The third session of the summit was held on 23 November 2025. Its title was “A Fair and Reasonable Future for All: Critical Minerals, Decent Work and Artificial Intelligence.” The session addressed the social and economic impacts of digital transformation, the ethical use of artificial intelligence technologies, labor market transitions, and the economic participation of developing countries. It also focused on the fair distribution of critical minerals within global supply chains and the promotion of local value creation within industrial policy frameworks.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized during his speech at this meeting that technological advancements must be human-centered. Erdoğan stated the following regarding the fair global use of artificial intelligence systems: “Artificial intelligence must serve the common interest of humanity; it must not replace humans but assist them.” In his address, Erdoğan also highlighted the challenges faced by developing countries in accessing technology and stressed the need to strengthen international cooperation.
Within the framework of the meeting, policies aimed at improving the quality of employment, the participation of youth and women in productive labor forces, and the reconfiguration of social protection systems in the digital age were discussed. Participating countries expressed the view that common ethical standards must be established to prevent technological progress from deepening social inequalities.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan conducted numerous bilateral and multilateral diplomatic engagements during the G20 Leaders Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
President Erdoğan received Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali at the Johannesburg Expo Center. Attending the meeting were Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, Presidential Advisor for Foreign Policy and Security Akif Çağatay Kılıç, AK Party Deputy Chairman Halit Yerebakan, and MHP General Secretary İsmet Büyükataman. The discussions reviewed bilateral relations between Türkiye and Ethiopia as well as regional and global developments.
Erdoğan noted that Türkiye is working to enhance cooperation with Ethiopia in many areas, especially trade, and expressed confidence that “the steps to be taken will elevate this relationship to higher levels.” He also underscored the importance of advancing the Ethiopia-Somali reconciliation established by the Ankara Declaration, stating that this process would serve as a “positive example” for resolving other disputes in the region.
Erdoğan met with the leaders of the MIKTA group—comprising Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Türkiye, and Australia—on the sidelines of the G20 summit. The meeting was attended by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Mexican Minister of Finance Edgar Amador. Discussions focused on strengthening political consultations among MIKTA countries, expanding commercial relations, and stabilizing global supply chains.
President Erdoğan held a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the margins of the summit. The talks focused on opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment, energy, and the defense industry. It was reported that Carney affirmed Canada’s pursuit of “deeper cooperation with Türkiye in the defense and space industries.”
Erdoğan also held a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G20 summit. Topics discussed included the situation in Gaza, ceasefire initiatives, the two-state solution process, the war in Ukraine, and ensuring security in Africa. Macron’s statement that “we must continue strengthening the G20 framework” was raised during the meeting.
During the meeting between President Erdoğan and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, economic relations, the defense industry, and migration were reviewed. Steps to increase bilateral trade volume were discussed. Meloni also recalled Italy’s joint initiative with India to combat the financing of terrorism.
President Erdoğan assessed bilateral relations with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Discussions covered cooperation in economics, investment, the defense industry, and digital trade.
President Erdoğan held a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The talks focused on strengthening economic ties between the two countries and fostering joint efforts in defense and innovative technologies.
President Erdoğan held a brief meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The discussion centered on enhancing economic and diplomatic relations with countries in Latin America and Africa. Lula da Silva made remarks on the same day regarding former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, stating that “Bolsonaro, who has been taken into custody, will serve his sentence.”
The outcome declaration of the 2025 G20 Johannesburg Summit was prepared in line with the priorities of the South African Presidency and adopted during the sessions held on 22–23 November 2025. The declaration presents a comprehensive text grounded in the principles of solidarity, equality and sustainability, marking the first G20 summit hosted on African soil.
Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya announced at a press conference in Johannesburg that the declaration was adopted by consensus. Magwenya stated, “We were moving step by step toward consensus and now we have a formally adopted summit declaration.”
Magwenya noted that an alternative procedure was followed during the adoption process. He explained, “There was a minor adjustment to the agenda. Normally, adoption occurs at the very end, but throughout the day’s bilateral meetings there was a strong sense that the summit declaration should be adopted as the first agenda item.” This indicated that the process had been accelerated.
Magwenya confirmed that the declaration was adopted despite objections from the United States. It was clarified that while the U.S. delegation conveyed reservations regarding certain sections of the declaration, the South African Presidency completed the process.
The declaration refers to four major conflict zones: Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine and Palestine. Magwenya stated, “The declaration highlights the world’s four most serious conflicts: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Ukraine and Palestine.”
The declaration emphasizes the need to resolve global conflicts through peaceful means and adherence to international law and the United Nations Charter. It also calls for increased climate finance, support for debt sustainability and the central placement of Africa’s development priorities on the global agenda.
For the first time in a G20 declaration, the Palestinian issue was mentioned alongside other international crises. Magwenya elaborated, “For the first time in G20 history, Palestine is mentioned in the same sentence as other conflicts, with the declaration stating: ‘We must end the conflicts in Sudan, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the occupied Palestinian territories, in Ukraine and in other conflict zones around the world.’”
The preamble of the declaration references the African philosophy of “Ubuntu” (“I am because we are”), which is linked to the principle of “no one is left behind.” The text states, “With the spirit of Ubuntu, we acknowledge that individual nations cannot develop alone.”
Within the framework of Africa’s development goals, the declaration addresses strengthening debt sustainability, closing gaps in energy access, processing critical minerals in source countries, ensuring food security and facilitating access to technology.
The declaration explicitly emphasizes peace. It includes the statement: “We will work for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the occupied Palestinian territories, Ukraine and other conflict zones.”
On climate change, the declaration stresses the need to meet the financial requirements of developing countries and support the energy transition. It also calls for strengthening global cooperation mechanisms to reduce disaster risk.
In his closing remarks, President Cyril Ramaphosa affirmed that the declaration reflects the G20’s belief in multilateralism. Ramaphosa stated, “The G20 South Africa Leaders’ Declaration is not merely a text; it is a commitment to concrete actions that will improve the lives of people everywhere.”
The outcome declaration is recognized as a document that supports the enhanced participation of developing countries in the global system, in line with the priorities of the South African Presidency. No country formally objected during the adoption process; however, the United States did not sign the declaration as it did not participate in the summit.
The 2025 G20 Johannesburg Summit was concluded on 23 November 2025 with a closing session chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa. Following the adoption of the outcome declaration, the presidency was transferred to the United States of America.
The closing session took place at the Johannesburg Expo Centre. Ramaphosa stated that the summit, hosted by South Africa, had been completed in the spirit of multilateral cooperation. He said, “The G20 South Africa Leaders’ Declaration is not merely a text; it is a commitment to concrete actions that will improve the lives of people everywhere.”
Ramaphosa also noted that the steps taken by India, Brazil and Indonesia during their presidencies laid the foundation for the South African summit: “India, Brazil and Indonesia laid the groundwork for this summit. The picture that has emerged here is built upon the foundations established by these three countries of the Global South.”
The United States did not send a delegation to the summit meetings in Johannesburg; it appointed only a small team led by Ambassador Marc D. Dillard from its embassy in Pretoria. President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa declared that he would not conduct a handover ceremony if the United States was represented only at the ambassadorial level.
Due to the absence of U.S. leadership at the summit, the presidency transition was conducted symbolically. The South African government spokesperson clarified that the “formal handover” process would be completed at the diplomatic level.
In his closing remarks, President Cyril Ramaphosa affirmed that South Africa remained committed during its presidency to the principle of “no one, no country and no community is left behind.” Ramaphosa concluded by stating, “As G20 leaders, we firmly uphold our commitment to leave no individual, no community and no country behind.”
Following the summit sessions, President Erdoğan told the press that the G20 must assume greater responsibility on issues of global justice, development and peace. Erdoğan reiterated, “I invite all G20 members to take on greater responsibility in building a more inclusive global economy where no one is left behind.”
On the situation in Gaza, he stated, “The destruction caused by Israel in Gaza has set back Palestine’s development efforts by 70 years.” Erdoğan highlighted the impact of the destruction in Palestine on regional stability and emphasized the need to enhance economic cooperation with African countries.
In his speech at the G20 Leaders Summit, Macron addressed the role of the G20, stating, “We must continue to strengthen the G20 framework.” He acknowledged the difficulties in resolving international crises and noted that differences among G20 members hinder collective action, saying, “We are struggling to jointly resolve major international crises around this table, including those members not present today.” He also commented on the U.S. absence, stating, “Today, the world’s largest economy has decided not to be here.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that he presented his own proposal on the peace process in Ukraine during the summit. Merz said, “I also presented my own proposals for a peace plan in Ukraine,” without providing further details.
Indian Prime Minister Modi called for a global agreement on the safe use of artificial intelligence at a global scale. Modi said, “We must establish a global consensus to prevent the misuse of artificial intelligence.”
He also announced the adoption of a joint initiative between India and Italy to combat the financing of terrorism. The joint statement reads, “India and Italy are launching a Joint Initiative to cooperate in combating the financing of terrorism.”
Brazilian President Lula da Silva made a statement during the summit regarding the detention of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in his country. Lula said, “Bolsonaro will serve his sentence.”
The 2025 G20 Johannesburg Summit highlighted the need to ensure debt sustainability, expand energy access, process critical minerals locally and support technology transfer for Africa’s economic development. In this context, the second phase of the “G20 Compact with Africa” initiative (2025–2033) was announced, with the establishment of a multilateral fund supported by the World Bank Group.
The declaration addresses mechanisms to reduce the debt burden of low-income countries. It reiterates, “We reaffirm our commitment to support efforts to address the debt vulnerabilities of low- and middle-income countries.” It also emphasizes the need to strengthen the implementation of the “G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments” and improve IMF-World Bank debt analyses.
On energy, the declaration recognizes the energy gap in Africa as a global priority. It cites figures: “More than 600 million Africans lack access to electricity” and “One billion people in Africa lack access to clean cooking fuels.”
Under the “Mission 300” platform, led by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, the goal is to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.
The summit announced a new voluntary initiative: the G20 Critical Minerals Framework. This framework aims to ensure fair sharing of critical minerals, promote value addition in source countries and establish transparent supply chains. The text states, “Critical minerals must become a catalyst not only for raw material exports but also for value addition and inclusive development.”
Digital transformation and artificial intelligence were addressed as distinct agenda items. The “Artificial Intelligence Initiative for Africa” was launched, aiming to enhance AI capacity, strengthen data infrastructure and develop training programs in African countries.
Additionally, the “Technology Policy Assistance Facility”, established by UNESCO, was announced. The purpose of this fund is to provide technical support to developing countries in shaping their artificial intelligence policies.
The 2025 G20 Leaders Summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 22–23 November 2025. The summit was the first ever held on the African continent in G20 history and took place under the theme of “Solidarity, Equity and Sustainability.” During the meeting, South Africa brought forward the priorities of the Global South and focused on Africa’s development goals. At the conclusion of the summit, the presidency was transferred from South Africa to the United States of America.
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November 22, 2025
South Africa’s Presidency
November 22, 2025
Statements by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres Prior to the Summit
November 22, 2025
Participants and Diplomatic Level
November 22, 2025
US Boycott and Diplomatic Tension
November 22, 2025
Agenda and Sessions of the Summit
November 22, 2025
Türkiye’s Diplomatic Activity
November 24, 2025
Summit Declaration and Adoption Process
November 24, 2025
Summit Closure and Presidency Transition
November 24, 2025
Leaders’ Press Statements and Assessments
November 24, 2025
Economic and Political Outcomes