The upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa is facing significant uncertainty and a diminished stature following the decisions of three major global figures to skip the event. The high-profile non-attendance threatens to weaken the effectiveness of this crucial platform for international cooperation.
According to recent reports, Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the summit scheduled for November 22nd in Johannesburg.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump had also signaled his likely absence. Trump explicitly stated that he has “many problems with South Africa,” citing this as the reason he may not travel for the gathering.
The most legally sensitive non-attendance is that of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has also declined to participate. Putin’s travel was made impossible because South Africa is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued an arrest warrant for him on charges related to the alleged abduction of Ukrainian children. As an ICC member state, South Africa is constitutionally obligated to execute that warrant, rendering the President’s attendance untenable.
The absence of the leaders from these three major global powers raises widespread concern over the ability of the G20 to fully achieve its intended goals for joint economic and geopolitical collaboration.
